ENG-2020 — Page 296

Chapter 16

Public Order

The overall crime rate increased 7.1 per cent in 2020, but violent crimes, burglaries and thefts all fell, by 3.1 per cent, 12.5 per cent and 2.2 per cent respectively. The overall crime detection rate was 37.8 per cent, up from 37.1 per cent in 2019.

The Security Bureau is responsible for security-related policies, including the maintenance of law and order, exercising immigration and customs control, rehabilitating offenders and drug abusers, and providing emergency fire and rescue services.

Fight Crime Committee

The Fight Crime Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, provides advice and recommendations to prevent and reduce crime, coordinates crime-fighting efforts and monitors their results. In 2020, it monitored the overall crime situation, the trend of commercial crime and technology crime, the progress of the Police Superintendent's Discretion Scheme, youth crime, the drug situation and the Correctional Services Department's publicity campaign for rehabilitated people. Violence, burglary, theft, deception, sexual assault and drug abuse were targeted in its 2020-21 publicity strategy.

Working with the committee are 18 District Fight Crime Committees, which monitor the crime situation at district level, reflect community concerns about law and order and organise district. publicity programmes to increase crime prevention awareness.

Police Force

The Hong Kong Police Force's commitment to maintaining law and order helps ensure Hong Kong remains one of the world's safest and most stable cities.

At the end of 2020, the police had about 33,000 and 4,700 police officer and civilian posts respectively, reinforced by some 4,000 volunteers serving in the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force. It appointed 166 inspectors and 391 constables during the year.

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