ENG-2009 — Page 378

306 Public Order

The bureau's engagement in the security industry continued to go from strength to strength. The private security industry plays a vital role in keeping Hong Kong's. crime rate low. Award ceremonies were held in all five land regions in order to give recognition and encouragement to those individuals who contributed to keeping Hong Kong safe.

Forensic Support

The Identification Bureau continued to play a significant role in supporting crime investigations and prosecutions by providing fingerprint collection and photography service and by collecting DNA evidence from crime scenes. The bureau strove to employ the latest technology and experts in pursuit of its goal of continuous improvement in its service. During the year, it established the criminal history of 28 474 individuals, linking 1 643 people to 1 476 criminal cases.

A new Evidence Management System (EMS) was implemented in July. This not only significantly enhanced the documentation and tracking capability of fingerprint evidence, it is also environmental friendly in its reduction of paper consumption.

The Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau continued to provide a high quality and efficient firearms and ammunition examination service to the Police Force and other law enforcement agencies. In June, it introduced a new scanning electron microscope system employing the latest technology to enhance detection of gunshot residues.

Liaison

The Liaison Bureau serves as a conduit for communication between the Police Force, and the Mainland Public Security Bureau, overseas law enforcement agencies and their officials in local consulates.

Part of the core business of the Liaison Bureau is to assist the Department of Justice in handling overseas requests for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and the surrender of fugitive offenders. By year-end, the Government had signed mutual legal assistance agreements in criminal matters with 27 jurisdictions and surrender of fugitive offenders agreements with 18 jurisdictions.

At the 15th Hong Kong-Guangdong-Macao Tripartite Criminal Investigation Department Heads Meeting in April, the bureau joined forces with the Mainland and Macao, to cement further the ties created at the operational, intelligence and strategic levels for combating cross-boundary crimes.

The Police continued to send officers on secondment to the INTERPOL General Secretariat in Lyon, France, and its Regional Liaison Office in Bangkok, Thailand. Attachment programmes with various overseas law enforcement agencies were also established.

The Police continued to enhance co-operation with INTERPOL in different areas including participating in a number of conferences and working groups at working levels. The Police also identified training opportunities in INTERPOL's member countries in which officers could participate.