ENG-1995 — Page 330

PUBLIC ORDER

which provide executive, accounting, clerical, secretarial and other general support for the administration of all formations. The rest includes various professionals, supplies staff, interpreters, communications and computer specialists, armourers, traffic wardens, cooks and workmen.

Recruitment of civilian staff was satisfactory, particularly for the posts of traffic warden and police communications officer. A total of 99 officers were recruited for various grades.

Training

Most training is designed and provided by the Force using its own resources, and when necessary, overseas training is also available. Newly-recruited constables and inspectors attend a 27-week and a 36-week residential course, respectively, at the Police Training School at Wong Chuk Hang, an 18-hectare, purpose-built campus. All officers are instructed in foot drill, firearms, tactics, physical fitness, swimming and lifesaving, self defence and first aid, and are required to reach similar standards regardless of rank. They must study criminal law, police and court procedures, as well as social matters. Inspectors are required to demonstrate wider knowledge on these subjects. Inspectors also study management topics and their leadership and supervisory skills are developed through a series of exercises.

After initial training, constables carry out duties under a tutor and attend a day of instruction per month, while inspectors receive familiarisation training on-the-job and attend a further two-week training course in their fifteenth month of service. Most officers are sent to the Police Tactical Unit in their second or third year of service where they are taught internal security roles and where the leadership and management skills of inspectors are further developed. Promotion and refresher training are given later.

In-service management training is provided at three levels in the form of com- mand courses run by the Higher Training Bureau. All inspectors attend the Junior Command Course when they have served for five years in the rank. Chief inspectors and superintendents attend the Intermediate and Senior Command Courses, respec- tively, within a year after promotion to each rank. Further training is given to officers who undertake specialist duties.

In conjunction with the Civil Service Training Centre, the Force offers its officers language courses in English and Putonghua. Officers of all ranks are encouraged to attend educational and training courses to enhance their knowledge and skills in their off-duty hours. Partial or full reimbursement is provided as an incentive, and time off is granted where necessary, to facilitate studies and examinations.

Distance learning which leads to a first degree in policing and police studies is available through a special arrangement with the University of Portsmouth. Oppor- tunities are available for officers to receive development and vocational training courses overseas and $6,103,000 was set aside for this purpose in 1995.

Two new areas for training planned in 1994 were further developed in 1995: revolver training for women police officers and refresher training in cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for most uniform branch officers. Women police recruited since January 1995 have received the same revolver training as their male colleagues during initial training at the Police Training School. They have carried arms on duty after that training as a part of the trial. Some serving women police

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