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Security guards act as the first line of defence to prevent trespassers from entering housing estates to carry out illegal activities. In view of the increasing trend of debt collection related crimes, the Regional Crime Prevention Office of New Territories South (RCPO NTS) coordinated the “Security Guards Alertness Campaign” on August 17 to test the alertness of security personnel, reminding them to carry out their duties in a prudent and conscientious manner in a bid to prevent crimes.
According to the prevalent crime trend, the RCPO NTS selected 17 housing estates with a total of 86 target buildings in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing, Shatin and Lantau Districts and worked with officers of Task Force Sub-units and Patrol Sub-units from various Police Districts in the campaign. To check whether the security guards would diligently perform their duties of enquiring visitors and recording their particulars, plainclothes police officers posed as strangers and tailed residents into the buildings. If the security guards intercepted the police officers for enquiry, the latter would reveal their identity and compliment the guards on their alertness. On the contrary, if the guards failed to do so, they would be given warning for a lack of awareness.
After inspecting each housing estate, the police officers visited the property management office concerned and informed the security supervisor of the purpose and result of the inspection. Advice was also given to the security supervisor to brief their staff on proper performance. The Police also distributed “Notice to Visitors” to the management companies and requested them to post the notice on conspicuous spots at the guard posts of the buildings to remind visitors of the guards’ right and duty to enquire them.
During the campaign, some of the security guards were given verbal warnings or warning letters for their lack of alertness, while some would receive commendation letters for their dutifulness.
