ENG-1994 — Page 346

PUBLIC ORDER

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The battle against triads and organised crime gained impetus following the passage of the Organised and Serious Crimes Bill, designed to give police and the courts the weapons required to bring gang leaders to justice. To meet the challenge, the Organised Crime and Triad Group within the Force was reorganised and expanded. A special unit was set up to provide witness protection. The Force was also conscious of the need to focus on the increasingly sophisticated types of commercial crime, and had notable success in uncovering international currency and credit card forgers.

Another area of concern for the police and the community at large has been a steady rise in crimes committed by juveniles and youths. The police have spearheaded preventive measures through outreach teams visiting schools and initiatives taken by their popular youth club, Junior Police Call. Close liaison has been maintained with the Education Department to step up measures aimed at preventing triad influences in schools.

Technologically, the Force is undergoing revolutionary changes. Sophisticated new com- munications channels, as well as computerised information and management systems to streamline operations and improve efficiency, are being introduced. At the management level, a new Service Quality Wing, headed by an Assistant Commissioner, was established to oversee planned refinements to the establishment, service levels and working procedures affecting all formations within the Force, and to optimise the effectiveness and efficiency of all police resources.

Crime

Reported crimes in 1994 totalled 87 804, an increase of 6.3 per cent compared with the 82 564 crimes recorded in 1993. The crime rate stood at 1 449 cases per 100 000 of the population. This represented a slight increase of 3.9 per cent, compared with 1993.

Violent crime, which includes murder, wounding, serious assault, rape, indecent assault, kidnapping, blackmail, criminal intimidation, robbery and arson, declined to 17 232 cases, compared to 17 454 in 1993. Robbery, wounding and serious assault accounted for some 73 per cent of the total number of violent crimes in 1994.

The situation regarding vehicle theft improved considerably. Overall, 4537 motor vehicles were reported missing in 1994, a drop of two per cent compared with 1993. The number of robberies involving the use of firearms both genuine and pistol-like objects -

was 187, a marked decrease of 35.7 per cent compared with 1993.

A total of 44 142 crimes, or 50.3 per cent, were detected, with 49 784 people arrested for various criminal offences. Of those arrested, 7 030 were juvenile offenders (aged under 16 years) and 9 175 were young persons (aged between 16 and 20 years).

Violent Crime

Robberies involving the use of genuine firearms, especially those against banks and other high-risk premises, continued to decline during the year. The decline was attributed to generally improved security measures taken at these premises and successful police action against armed criminal gangs. There were also fewer incidents of criminals opening fire in public places. Continued good co-operation with the Chinese authorities effectively reduced the number of criminals entering Hong Kong to commit serious and violent crime, and also led to more criminals who sought refuge in China being arrested and sent back to Hong Kong.