Vulnerable Witness Support Cadre (VSC), in collaboration with the Crime Headquarters of Hong Kong Island (HKI) and Kowloon East (KE), organised training workshops on December 14, 2023 and January 10, 2024 respectively. Over 100 officers from the VSC, regional investigation teams and district investigation teams of HKI and KE attended the workshops. Experienced trainers of VSC, Police Clinical Psychologist, representative from Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit (FCSV) provided policy updates and briefed on interview skills in the workshops. Members from the Vulnerable Witness and Child Protection Task Force of the Department of Justice shared their court experience in related cases. The participants responded that the workshops facilitated enhancement of their communication skills with witnesses, thereby allowing them to handle cases more professionally.

As of January 2024, VSC has recruited more than 220 trainees to assist the frontline in handling more than 1 900 cases and taking more than 2 200 interview statements. To dovetail with the imminent implementation of the mandatory reporting mechanism for child abuse, VSC will continue expanding its manpower and conducting training. A new round of recruitment will take place in the first quarter of 2024. Please stay tuned on the Force’s NoticeBoard for application details.

Officers from the VSC, HKI and KE attend the workshops on providing supports to vulnerable witnesses.