The Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit (FCSV) of Crime Wing Support Group organised a liaison gathering for about 110 members of five self-help groups for mentally incapacitated persons (MIPs) and their family members at the Police College on September 3, with the assistance of 52 volunteers from various police formations.

The five self-help groups were the Society for the Welfare of the Autistic Persons, the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association, The Parents' Association of Pre-school Handicapped Children, as well as the parents' groups of the Rehabilitation Service Division under the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council and Fu Hong Society.

A variety of informative and fun-filled activities were held for the participants. Uniformed officers from Aberdeen Division explained to them their daily work and some of the police procedures, including a demonstration of the procedures of stop, question and search people. Furthermore, an officer from the Crime Prevention Bureau shared crime prevention tips with the participants to strengthen their protection skills and reduce the risk of exploitation by criminals.

Police volunteers led the participants to tour the Police College, and shared with them the training programme for police recruits as well as the volunteers' own policing experience. The Police Dog Unit also staged a performance by police dogs.

The event enabled the police volunteers to learn more about MIPs' needs, their behavioural traits and the skills of communicating with them. On the other hand, the MIPs and their family members got a better understanding of police work, and this helped them to build up trust with the Force.

The Project Manager of the Society for the Welfare of the Autistic Persons, Mr Ma Ting-ho, was grateful to the Force for organising the event, which had enhanced mutual understanding between the Force and the MIP community.

Acting Chief Superintendent Lee Wai-man of Crime Wing Support Group thanked the volunteers for their efforts and encouraged them to share their experience with their colleagues. He reiterated that officers should bear in mind the salience of professional sensitivity and empathy while handling MIPs.