In view of an increasing number of traffic complaints brought about by the use of car camcorders, the Traffic Investigation Group of Investigation and Support Division, Traffic New Territories South (TIG I&S NTS), launched "Project Change" in January to streamline work process and enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness. With the same manpower, the total number of prosecutions initiated by TIG has more than doubled in the first nine months of this year when compared with that of last year. The project has proved successful in enhancing the work effectiveness of TIG.

Under the project, a Sergeant of TIG conducts initial screening of all traffic complaints and sorts out trivial or non-pursuable cases. These cases are then dealt with in accordance with the Force Procedures Manual 64-03. Officers can exercise discretion to give a warning to the party concerned. This eliminates unnecessary administrative work so that Investigating Officers (IOs) can focus on serious cases, in particular, dangerous and careless driving cases.

Superintendent (I&S NTS) Yip Siu-ming opined that the project enabled the team to keep its workload at a reasonable level and focus on more serious cases. Moreover, the IOs have been proactively conducting cyber patrols since April. If dangerous or careless driving incidents surface on social media or in newspapers, they will locate the witnesses and suspects concerned for enquiry. Nine such cases have been picked up so far with eight drivers prosecuted for dangerous or careless driving.

NTS Deputy Regional Commander Kwan Chui-ching earlier presented letters to a number of IOs and supervisory officers in recognition of their outstanding work performance. One of the officers, Senior Police Constable Shum Kam-pau of TIG I&S NTS, reckoned that the project had enhanced the effectiveness of the team. On the other hand, members of the public are pleased to see the Police taking the initiative to follow up serious traffic offences uploaded onto the social media. This has raised public awareness of safe driving.