To address the risk faced by officers fastening seat belts for arrested persons (APs) on police vehicles, Transport Division of the Traffic Branch Headquarters has collaborated with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to re-design the seat belts.

The new design features two newly installed auxiliary buckles on each side of the double-seat at the middle row. Also, the seat belts for APs in the middle of the back row are to be buckled outward. Before an AP is boarded onto the vehicle, the officer will extend and fasten the seat belt from the seat where AP sits to the corresponding auxiliary buckle. Once the handcuffed AP is seated, the officer can easily detach the seat belt from the auxiliary buckle and fasten the seat belt to the buckle at the AP’s seat without reaching across the AP.

The seat belts on 239 patrol cars will be changed from July onward, with priority given to Regional Emergency Units. The replacement exercise is expected to complete by mid-2025. The new design will become a standard procurement requirement for the Force’s large vans in the future so that the safety and efficiency for escorting APs can be enhanced.

The officer first fastens the seat belt from the AP’s seat to the auxiliary buckle (circled in green). Once AP is seated, the officer can easily detach the seat belt from the auxiliary buckle and fasten the seat belt to the buckle at the AP’s seat (circled in red).