Tai Po District (TPDIST) rolled out "Project Village Watch" in August 2011 to recruit villagers to act as Crime Prevention Ambassadors for preventing and beating crimes in their villages. Under the project, TPDIST officers provide information on the latest crime trends and crime prevention knowledge for the Crime Prevention Ambassadors, who would pass on the information to their fellow villagers. The Ambassadors would provide the officers with information in their villages, enabling the police to reinforce partnership with the rural community in tackling crimes.
September 12 was a big day for "Project Village Watch" when the 8th Crime Prevention Ambassadors Recruitment Seminar and Appointment Ceremony were held in Sheung Shui Junior Police Call Clubhouse, with TPDIST Deputy Commander Ng Wing-kai officiating.
At the seminar, Police Community Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Chan Shan-shan, and officers from the District Crime Prevention Office briefed 27 Crime Prevention Ambassadors from five villages in Sheung Shui Division on details of the project, their duties, the crime trends in villages, and knowledge of preventing burglary and deception.
After the seminar, TPDIST Commander Cheuk Hau-yip officiated at the Crime Prevention Ambassadors Appointment Ceremony, and, together with the Chairman of the North District Fight Crime Committee, Doctor Yuen Pong-yiu and Sheung Shui Divisional Commander Michael Armstrong, presented Certificates of Appointment to 27 Crime Prevention Ambassadors. Village representatives welcomed the crime prevention measures recommended by the project, such as installing CCTV and improving security facilities in villages.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Cheuk thanked the North District Fight Crime Committee, Sheung Shui Rural Committee and representatives of different villages for their great support, which, he noted, had contributed to the success of "Project Village Watch" in strengthening community-police co-operation, beating rural crimes, and providing a safe environment for the rural community. So far, TPDIST has recruited 181 Crime Prevention Ambassadors from 55 villages.
