ENG-1996 — Page 370

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roles and where inspectors' leadership and management skills are further developed. Promotion and refresher training are given later.

A revised continuation training course for experienced Station Sergeants was introduced in October 1996. The three-week course replaces two existing courses and brings together officers from all units to consider current developments and problems within and outside the Force.

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

Legal and social changes in the territory, the Commissioner's policy of service quality and a commitment to provide as much accreditation of police training as possible led to reviews of training for Detectives, Constables, Inspectors, and the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Command Courses. The revised training courses are being implemented.

In conjunction with the Civil Service Training and Development Institute, 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 for studies and examinations. Opportunities are also available for officers to receive development and vocational training courses overseas and $7 million was set aside for this purpose in 1996.

Two new training activities introduced in 1994 were further developed in 1996: revolver training for woman police officers and refresher training in cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for most uniform branch officers. Woman police recruited since January 1995 have received the same revolver training as their male colleagues during initial training at the Police Training School. At December 31, 1996, 149 woman recruits and 41 woman probationary Inspectors had successfully trained on revolver shooting. Training in CPR is provided to officers during initial training but their skills deteriorate with time. A small team of specially-trained and equipped instructors visits police units so that all uniform branch officers can receive one day of refresher training every three years.

Throughout the year, emphasis continued to be placed on firearms training to enhance officers' ability to deal with armed confrontations. Tactics training was further developed in 1996 and a long-term firearms and tactics training strategy has been initiated.

Recruitment

The number of applications for Inspectorate posts continued to rise from 3 045 in 1995 to 3 268 in 1996, representing an increase of 7.3 per cent. Of these applicants, 155 were appointed as Inspectors. Another 58 in-serving officers were promoted from the ranks.

Recruitment at Constable rank remained satisfactory with 868 recruits taken on strength out of a total of 10 396 applicants. Satisfactory recruitment saw the strength