| Police anti-shop-theft video hits its target | |
|
AIMED at addressing crimes committed
by youths, Kwun Tong Police have produced a video tape on anti-shop-theft which is
being shown to students in Kwun Tong and Tseung Kwan O areas.
The production of the video was a joint initiative between Kwun Tong District Board Chairman Hau Shui-pui, Kwun Tong District Fight Crime Committee Chairman Cheung Sing-kuen and the former PCRO of Kwun Tong District CIP Wong Hon-kwan. Modelled on real life cases, the video is aimed at advising children not to steal from shops and reminds them of the serious consequences they face if arrested for committing such a crime. The video contrasts the life of two youngsters: one who begins to steal from a supermarket under the bad influence of his peers eventually ruining his future; while the other child, who resists the pressure to steal, is shown to lead a happy life. Produced by the Police Community Relations Office (PCRO) of Kwun Tong Police Station and sponsored by the Kwun Tong District Fight Crime Committee and District Board, the video is being shown to Forms 1, 2 and 3 students in the Kwun Tong and Tseung Kwan O areas during school visits from uniformed police officers who also discuss with students what they have learned after viewing the tape. |
 Scenes from the impactful new Kwun Tong Police video showing teenagers being stopped for shop-theft in a department store, and (below) experiencing peer pressure to steal
|
|
The well-received video is expected to be shown to over 20 schools over the next two years and is also being given to youth centres and district offices where video cassettes are kept for lending purposes. Said Assistant Police Community Relations Officer, Kwun Tong, Yeung Yuk-fai: "The video targets Form 1 to Form 3 students because they are inexperienced, naive and more vulnerable to bad influences from older kids due to the drastic change from a primary to a secondary school setting. Shop-theft is also a crime in which young people most easily get involved." The production and presentation of the video at schools is part of an overall strategy adopted by Kowloon East Region to combat youth crimes and drugs activities. The approach comprises law enforcement, preventive education and rehabilitation as well as counselling. Apart from the anti-shop-theft video, Kwun Tong PCRO is producing another tape targeting youth crimes. That video - which is expected to be available by the coming September school term - depicts the perils of becoming (voluntarily or otherwise) a triad member, and how to handle and avoid being bullied. | |
| Video-taped Interview Development Training Course | |
|
EIGHTEEN police officers from the
Detective Training School (DTS) and seven major formations recently attended a trainers
course on video-taped interviewing techniques.
The two-week Interview Development Training Course was delivered at the DTS by Chief Inspector William Manson, Director of Studies of the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan Castle, Scotland. A pioneer in the field of video taping police interviews with suspects in the UK, and an expert on "cognitive interviewing", Mr Manson is a highly qualified trainer on the subject and techniques and delivers courses on an ongoing basis to police in London, Wakefield and Portsmouth. |
|
Said DTS Commandant, Superintendent Leung Po-tak: "Since the video interview room (VIR) for criminal investigation was set up by the Hong Kong Police Force in 1993, some 650 of our crime officers ranging from constable to chief inspector have been trained by three qualified officers who underwent the interview development training course in the UK. It is anticipated that by the end of 1998 all District Headquarters and most Divisions will have their own VIR. To support the continual expansion of the use of video-taped interviews in criminal investigations, we are now increasing the number of trainers as well as enhancing the training they get." To this end, ten trainers from DTS and eight crime officers from KW, KE, HKI, NTN, NTS, Marine and OCTB participated in the course. They will then proceed to arrange their own short courses and training day sessions for officers in need of video-taped interview instruction at regional and district level. Said SP Leung: "By having Mr Manson conduct his training course here, the ability of our trainers is not only enhanced and developed, at the same time there are more officers who can take the course and benefit from his expertise and thereby increase the training capacity of the interview development training course in the regions and districts." | |
|
Said course participant CIP Tony Deakin, RCU NTN: "The video-taped interview is a powerful weapon that police officers can use as a tool for successful criminal prosecution in both the High Court and District Courts. Because the courts are our principal clients, we are anxious that the product we produce meets their requirements. Correctly video-taped evidence presented in court is evidence that is credible and acceptable. Video-taped evidence is especially useful in blackmail and triad related cases." Cognitive and investigative interview techniques are highlights of the interview development training course. |
 CIP Yu Tat-chung, RCU HKI, and police trainers discussing the finer points of cognitive interviewing with CIP Bill Manson of the Scottish Police College |
|
Said CIP Deakin: "The cognitive approach to interviewing is an unique method employing psychological techniques whereby the interviewee is asked to think back and recall every detail of the event, to mentally re-live what happened - to retrieve everything that is initially remembered with minimal interference. This approach is well-suited for getting evidence from witnesses, while the same method can be applied to the offender." The course is also very practical in nature, with participants alternating in roles of interviewer and interviewee, and in the process learning the importance of preparing a list of pertinent questions that "need" to be asked while developing follow-up skills of interrogation on relevant points as and when raised by the interviewee. Learning how to ask the right question at the suitable time is a skill in itself. Also immensely useful were the real case videotapes presented to participants during the course which were compiled over years by those UK police forces in the forefront of developing the video-taped interview method. | |
Under the leadership of its chairman, ACP IS Peter Halliday, and two professional musical conductors, Joseph Leung and Jimmy Cheng, the choir has achieved professional standards, sings musical pieces mainly in 4-part harmonies, and is darn good to listen to - as attested by its audiences here and in Singapore, England and Canada where the Choir has been invited to perform. To hear for yourself, attend its annual concert, this year in the auditorium of Shatin Town Hall on Friday 17 April at 8 pm. Its most ambitious performance to date, guest performers include: the Police Silver Band; Auxy Pipe Band; Police Children's Choir; and Police Chinese Dance group to name a few. Bookings and enquiries: 2734-9009. |
