ENG-2003 — Page 389

PUBLIC ORDER

weeks, respectively. In 2003, a total of 541 police constables and 28 inspectors graduated from the PTS.

The Continuation and Promotion Division of the PTS provides development and promotion courses to in-service and newly promoted junior police officers. In addition, the division provides mock court training for recruits, serving junior police officers and officers of other departments. It also trains newly recruited traffic wardens and traffic officers in various traffic-related subjects.

In 2003, the PTS continued to assist the Labour Department and the Education and Manpower Bureau in running youth training programmes. The programmes are aimed at developing young people's confidence, discipline, interpersonal skills and leadership potential. During the year, a total of 911 teenagers received such training at the school.

The Training Development Bureau continues to maintain its core responsibilities of planning, designing, updating and continuously reviewing the Police Force's training programmes. The use of e-learning and an Internet-accessible Knowledge Management system are being pursued in line with an overall plan to exploit opportunities available in information technology.

The successful Learning and Development plan that encourages participation in a lifelong learning culture is to be extended, providing more resources to officers pursuing self-development courses at selected universities and other institutions.

The Higher Training Division's role within the Training Wing has been revised to meet the increasingly complex demands of the police manager's role. Higher Training now focuses on competency-based training and the developmental training needs of all officers in the Police Force, from Constable to Assistant Commissioner level with the aim of introducing or enhancing managerial and leadership skills. A number of new modules have been introduced which cover basic managerial concepts for junior officers to more in-depth seminars for senior police managers. These modules will be continually developed to assist officers to equip themselves with the skills necessary to meet both internal and external customer expectations.

The Detective Training School successfully revamped all Detective Training Courses to bring the syllabi of courses in line with the changing needs of front-line officers. The new courses focus upon equipping trainees with practical working skills through problem-solving, scenario-based skills training.

The Weapons Training Division continued to design the most updated and practical use of training methodologies involving the application of force. The new technologies in crises resolution and resistance control training introduced in 2003 enabled the practical use of police tactics and the necessity and application of different levels of force to be demonstrated realistically in given training scenarios. The levels of force that could be practised included administering verbal commands, the application of OC Foam or an extendable baton, and use of firearms. The continuation tactics training for District personnel continued during the year, and was welcomed by all participants.

The Police Driving School provides high quality driving training to officers working in different formations. In order to meet the unique occupational characteristics, apart from running basic courses the school developed a series of Operational Driving Courses in car and motorcycle training. The school also set up Regional Driving

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