Narcotics
The
Narcotics Bureau was restructured during 2000 to enable better
intelligence-led operations and faster response to the challenges of the
fluid illicit drug situation. While heroin has been a longstanding problem
in Hong Kong, the recent dramatic rise in psychotropic drug trafficking
and abuse at 'rave' parties has required a different approach. With young
people often involved with these illicit drugs, the Force has had to adopt
new enforcement strategies to successfully contain the problem. Tight
policing of dance parties has proved a good deterrent, while other
authorities have stepped up education about the dangers of drug abuse. In
June 2000, the Narcotics Bureau made a record seizure of over 240 000 MDMA
(ecstasy) tablets when a Dutch-Chinese man was apprehended in a Kowloon
hotel.
The Bureau devotes most of its resources to countering Hong Kong-connected
syndicates involved in orchestrating international drug trafficking
ventures. Particular attention is paid to tackling cross-boundary
trafficking through close liaison and cooperation with the Mainland
authorities. During 2000, this resulted in six successful operations and
the seizure of 359 kg of heroin, 300 kg of 'ice' and 7 000 kg of a
methamphetamine precursor chemical.
Similar cooperation with enforcement bodies around the world led to a
number of successful operations ¡X mostly overseas ¡X that helped
disrupt international drug trafficking through arrests and seizure of
substantial quantities of heroin, 'ice', amphetamines and ecstasy.
Criminal
Intelligence
The
Force continues to attach great importance to intelligence gathering in
the prevention and interdiction of crime. Intelligence officers throughout
the Force have access to a sophisticated computer system that enables them
to collate, disseminate and retrieve intelligence information at any hour.
During the year, more than 50 officers were trained in the use of 'i2', a
computer programme used for conducting criminal intelligence analysis.
Plans are now in hand to upgrade the current computer system to a
multi-media facility that also supports the use of Chinese.
The Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB) works closely with overseas
counterparts and sends officers to attend relevant courses as well as
conducting specialist courses for visiting law enforcement officers.
An intelligence operation conducted jointly by CIB and OCTB in early 2000
led to the neutralisation of an extremely well organised cross-boundary
loan-sharking and debt collection syndicate, with the arrest of 43 people
and the restraint of crime proceeds amounting to $40 million. Similar
cooperation helped eliminate an international human smuggling syndicate in
December when 12 Mainland stowaways were intercepted and 17 people
including core members of the syndicate were arrested.
The success of the operations demonstrated the effectiveness of the Force
Criminal Intelligence System in tackling sophisticated criminal
syndicates.
Child
Protection
The
Child Protection Policy Unit (CPPU) is responsible for the formulation and
implementation of Force policies on child abuse, domestic violence, sexual
violence and juvenile crimes. It continued to provide support to Regional
Child Abuse Investigation Units and other crime units investigating cases
involving children and the mentally incapacitated. During the year, a
police officer and a police clinical psychologist were trained and
accredited to conduct basic training in child protection special
investigations.
CPPU works closely with overseas law enforcement agencies in combating
commercial sexual exploitation of children. Experience gained in this
field was used to help the Government draft legislation relating to the
prevention of child pornography that will go before the Legislative
Council in due course.
The
sensitive issue of how to handle cases of domestic violence prompted a
review of police procedures that resulted in a new training programme
designed to help officers understand the problem and provide quality
service for victims and their families. Since May 2000, CPPU has also
collaborated with concerned departments and organisations to improve
services for victims of sexual violence.
Criminal
Records
Any
person convicted of a crime in Hong Kong is registered with the Criminal
Records Bureau (CRB), which maintains a comprehensive database that can be
used by members of the Force, government departments and the judiciary. In
2000, that database gained 90 530 new conviction records.
Through its 'Enhanced Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System'
(EPONICS), the Bureau provides information about missing people, wanted
people and outstanding warrants of arrest. The system dealt with 4.7
million enquiries in 2000. Investigators can also make use of a
computerised system that helps identify suspects by their modus operandi.
Victims and witnesses to crime can view potential suspects through a
computerised photo library that categorises individuals by features and
other characteristics.
Crime
Prevention
One
of the best ways to reduce crime is to help people learn how to avoid it.
The Crime Prevention Bureau (CPB) promotes the principles of
self-protection through the provision of target-specific security advice.
This service has been enhanced on a broader level through close liaison
with professional bodies representing the banking, hotel, jewellery,
property development, insurance, security, motor vehicle and property
management sectors. Further advances in the areas of building design and
computer security were made in the past year.
One of CPB's most successful ventures in advising the public about
domestic security and juvenile victimisation has been its Crime Prevention
Bus and the 'Robotcop'. Moving with the times, the bus was given a new
look during the year.
As part of the Force's ongoing drive to incorporate the use of information
technology to improve its service to the public, the Bureau maintains a
bilingual internet web site which provides the latest crime prevention
information on-line 24 hours a day. In addition, a fax-on-demand, call-fax
system is available for members of the public to receive crime prevention
advice.
Identification
The
Identification Bureau continued to provide quality support for the Force
and other law enforcement agencies. Further refinements were made to the
Computer Assisted Fingerprint Identification System that has
revolutionised the speed and accuracy of identification. During the year,
the system enabled the Bureau to accurately establish the criminal history
of some 60 000 individuals and at the same time link over 700 people to
unsolved crimes ¡X some of which were of outstanding notoriety.
The success of the Bureau in identifying both finger and palm prints has
relied heavily on the commitment of Scenes of Crime officers who, through
efficient co-ordination, managed to attend 89 per cent of crime scenes
within 45 minutes of being called. They were ably supported by the
Advanced Technology Section, which uses chemicals and other scientific
means to detect prints on exhibits, which linked 482 suspects to crimes.
All told, the Bureau identified over 1 600 suspects involved in 1 475
cases ¡X 208 being serious crimes.
Also gathering valuable evidence is the Photographic Section, whose
officers attended some 4 000 crime scenes. During the year, the section
produced over one million photographs and slides.
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