Kowloon
West Region
The
Kowloon West (KW) Region covers some of the most densely populated
districts of Hong Kong, as well as some of the newest development areas on
the West Kowloon reclamation. Add to that the tourism and entertainment
belt along Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and business areas of Tsim Sha
Tsui East, and you have a particularly diverse Police Region.
Overall
Crime
While
there was little difference in the overall number of crimes reported in
2000, notable decreases were seen in robbery (-11.5 per cent) and burglary
cases (-7.9 per cent). This was tempered by increases in petty cash crimes
like deception (+11.85 per cent) and shop theft (+14.82 per cent), which
could be attributed to the aftermath of the economic downturn.
Drugs raids carried out within the Region achieved a 99.2 per cent success
rate during the year, with heroin remaining the principal drug seized.
Arrests for heroin-related offences accounted for 44.3 per cent of the
total arrests. Also noted was the upward trend in the abuse of
psychotropic drugs as reflected by the significant increase in the number
of arrests and seizures in relation to ecstasy and ketamine ¡X used by
young people at dance parties.
Vice activities are mainly concentrated in the Mong Kok area and regional
enforcement action continues to focus on this District. Stringent use of
Closure Orders helped reduce the number of vice establishments operating
in Mong Kok to less than 190 ¡X some 20 per cent less than in 1999.
Mainland prostitutes using two-way permits continued to dominate the vice
market and accounted for 73.6 per cent of the total arrests during the
year. But there has also been a dramatic increase in the number of IIs
arrested ¡X up from 20 in 1999 to 275.
KW Region works closely with the Immigration Department to mount regular
joint operations against these groups and prostitutes brought in from
other countries. At the same time, we have established an intelligence
exchange mechanism with the Guangdong Provincial Public Security
Department. Through direct liaison, exchange of intelligence and bilateral
meetings to discuss the cross-boundary vice activities, a series of
operations codenamed 'Bluebird' were successfully mounted towards the end
of 2000.
Youth
Crime
Juvenile
crime remains a priority with operations mounted specifically aimed at
young people involved in drug abuse and drug-related crimes. During 2000,
the number of juvenile arrests increased by 25.2 per cent while the number
of young people arrested went up by 8.4 per cent.
KW Districts have adopted a proactive approach with multi-agency
cooperation to prevent and detect juvenile crime. The Region also reaches
out to those at risk by producing a quarterly colour-printed magazine
called 'Smart Teen', which is distributed to all local secondary school
students and Juvenile Protection Service supervisors. The magazine aims to
provide teenagers with a better understanding of their community, make
them aware of the potential pitfalls surrounding their activities, help
boost their self-confidence and enhance their ability to tackle common
youth problems. In addition, a KW Youth-Care Committee will be established
in March 2001 to organise programmes, activities and campaigns designed to
reduce and prevent juvenile crime.
Triads
Stringent
enforcement action against triad elements and tight control on
entertainment outlets helped contain the triad problem in KW during the
year. The number of triad-related offences recorded in 2000 fell a further
19 per cent following a significant 43 per cent drop in 1999.
The long-term Regional strategy has been to disrupt triad activities on
all fronts by using both covert and overt means to target specific triad
operations and individuals, while District resources are co-ordinated to
combat triad activities that are of local concern.
Throughout the year, Mong Kok District initiated a multi-agency approach
targeting triad controlled pornographic and pirated VCD retail outlets in
the District. More than two million VCDs were seized and 1 535 people were
arrested in a series of joint operations that has effectively brought the
situation under control.
Enforcement action was also stepped up to suppress the growing drug abuse
problem at discotheques that has generated quick money to traffickers who
are mostly under the control of triad bouncers. Frontline units made a
number of successful arrests at identified blackspots. Following the
completion of a number of large public housing estates, high profile
police operations were mounted to eradicate decoration racketeering during
the in-take of residents.
Traffic
Traffic
KW launched an enforcement and road safety publicity action during March
2000 that had a decisive effect in reducing accidents. Under the title
'Operation Eagle Eye', their strong presence along the length of Nathan
Road and its top five accident blackspots resulted in 20 per cent and 50
per cent fewer injuries recorded in the respective areas, compared with
March 1999. There were no fatalities. In addition, franchised buses
lowered their expected 33 per cent share in accident involvement to 19 per
cent.
New
Territories North Region
New
Territories North (NTN) Region continues to experience fast-paced
development with a growing population that now stands at 1.53 million.
With an area 516km2, the Region encompasses 46 per cent of the
total area of Hong Kong. A 32-km fence marks the northern boundary that
separates the HKSAR from the Mainland and the Shenzhen Special Economic
Zone.
One of the Region's four Police Districts is the Border District, which
faces unique challenges in terms of illegal immigration and the
ever-increasing volumes of cross border passenger and vehicle movements.
The other Districts are Tai Po, Yuen Long and Tuen Mun.
Overall
Crime
While
the total number of crimes reported during 2000 increased by 3.5 per cent,
violent crime dropped by 4 per cent, matched by a noticeable decrease of
10.9 per cent in wounding and serious assault cases.
Theft-related crimes and burglaries both rose in 2000. In response to an
increasing trend of high performance vehicles being stolen to strip for
parts locally, the Region mounted various anti-vehicle crime operations
with success.
The number of juvenile offenders increased by 10.4 per cent with the
majority arrested for theft-related crimes. On the preventive side,
officers gave regular talks to schools and distributed newsletters to help
youngsters stay away from crime. A number of proactive enforcement
measures were taken to combat juvenile crime.
Errant
Youths
Missing
youths are being found faster and offered counselling and other services
under 'Operation Reunion', a new initiative introduced by NTN Region in
July 2000. Patrolling officers look out for juveniles who may be in moral
or physical danger because they are wandering very late at night, are in
bars, or are with people who could be a bad influence on them. These
juveniles are then encouraged to go home, and may be escorted. In more
extreme cases, officers use their powers under the Police Force Ordinance
and the Children and Juveniles Ordinance to take them to a place of
safety.
Officers may refer troubled juveniles to NGOs or the Social Welfare
Department for follow up action by social work experts, or in serious
cases, for Care and Protection Orders to be made. So far, around 50
juveniles have been taken back to their parents and there have been no
repeaters, signifying that the scheme has had some effect on their
conduct.
In Tai Po District, Police ran a summer holiday camp for young people
called 'Operation Ultrahot'. Organised as a means to deter youth crimes
and gang activities, the camp gave parents the opportunity to enrol
troublesome children for guidance and counselling. The project proved to
be a big success, with juvenile crime falling by 13 per cent during the
camp compared to the same period in 1999.
Traffic
Accidents
Proactive
enforcement action at accident blackspots helped reduce fatal accidents by
more than a third in 2000. Targets included motorists driving too close to
the vehicle in front, which accounts for 20 per cent of traffic accidents.
By using a laser speed gun, traffic police can cite drivers for 'careless
driving' and 'reckless driving' once speeding is detected. Suggestions
were made to the highway authorities for improvements to signage and road
engineering that Police believe can diminish the chance for accidents.
Following a significant increase in accidents involving cyclists in 1999,
Traffic NTN introduced cycle track patrols along Tolo Highway and Ting Kok
Road. Each team consists of four officers who patrol the tracks on
bicycles during Sundays and public holidays. This initiative and concerted
publicity campaigns helped reduce traffic accidents involving cyclists by
6.5 per cent in 2000.
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