The FIFA World Cup 2014, a quadrennial soccer tournament, will open in Brazil in mid-June. To combat a possible upsurge in illegal bookmaking activities during the tournament, Crime Wing has set up an inter-formation working group to draw up an action plan against illegal soccer gambling activities and co-ordinate the efforts of various formations in this aspect. 

 

Chaired by the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) Senior Superintendent (SSP) Brian Lowcock, the working group comprises representatives from Criminal Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Bureau (Financial Investigations Division), Commercial Crime Bureau (Technology Crime Division), Crime Prevention Bureau, Police Public Relations Branch and all Regions.

 

The first meeting of the working group was held in late March this year. The group decided to adopt a four-pronged approach comprising prevention, education, intelligence collection and enforcement action.

 

On the prevention and education fronts, the Force, together with The Ping Wo Fund, Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) and Hong Kong Jockey Club, has rolled out publicity in the community and schools on the adverse effects of illegal gambling for people from all walks of life, including students and youths. HAB and the Force gave a press conference on April 11 to brief the media on the publicity campaign with a view to promoting the message: "Do not Gamble!"

 

To deal with illegal bookmaking syndicates trying to evade arrest by exploiting the regional differences and the characteristics of various jurisdictions, the Force, in collaboration with the public security authorities on the Mainland and the INTERPOL delegates from the Asian Pacific Region, has commenced intelligence exchanges and resolved to mount joint operations to combat cross-region syndicated bookmaking activities. OCTB is also responsible for co-ordinating the collection, analysis and dissemination of intelligence among the intelligence units of all Regions.