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Reflections on Goretex DEAR SIR, I would like to make a few comments on the Goretex jackets issued to general UB police drivers. The first concern of UB police drivers is that because of its length, wearing a UB Goretex jacket can restrict movement when they are seated to drive. Secondly, the UB Goretex jackets - unlike the Goretex jackets issued to traffic police - do not have reflective material the absence of which can pose a danger to police drivers who may be required to alight from their vehicles to handle traffic accidents should they occur (particularly at night) during the course of duty. It would therefore be safer for UB police drivers to be issued with Traffic Goretex jackets. Yours faithfully SPC Mak Kim-ming Sau Mau-ping REPLY . . . DEAR SIR, I hope this reply addresses the officer's concerns. Two styles of Goretex jackets were designed with the different job natures and working environments of general UB and traffic officers in mind. Because general UB police drivers are also called upon to perform general UB duties, they are issued with UB Goretex jackets. Although police drivers, like other UB officers, may be required to handle traffic accidents, compared to traffic officers this takes up a very small proportion of their work, and we issue Goretex jackets to officers according to their primary job nature. When general UB officers are handling a traffic accident, they should assess the dangerousness of the road situation and take appropriate actions - including summoning traffic officers to the scene. In regard to the length of the coat, both sides of the UB Goretex jacket are attached with buttons. Police drivers can detach the sides from the waist to the knee while driving thereby reducing any feeling of restraint. Wong Tsz-bun SIP F2 SUP

Free sauna DEAR SIR, I am a Patrol Sub-unit officer of Kowloon West Region. On the evening of April 5, the temperature was over 25C and I was on 'C' shift. Officers of 'A' and 'B' shifts were on shirt sleeve order but officers on 'C' shift wore winter uniform. Because of the heat my uniform was soaked with perspiration while I conducted patrols that night. I see no reason why officers on night shift were not on shirt sleeve order. By wearing winter uniform our performance was negatively affected. Shouldn't the power of deciding what working dress is worn be delegated to the Patrol Sub-unit Commander, who would have been more aware than the Regional Commander of what the temperature was that night? Yours faithfully A sweaty officer (name supplied) REPLY . . . DEAR SIR, There is a need for uniformity in the wearing of working dress and it is not considered desirable to delegate below the level of Regional Commander in respect of shirt sleeve order. On the approach of warmer weather, forecasts are monitored on a daily basis and on the evening of 5 April 1998 as temperatures of 22C to 23C were expected it was felt that 'C' shift officers would be more comfortable wearing tunics. While every effort is made to ensure that officers are appropriately attired the fickle nature of the weather patterns can negate the very best of intentions. I can sympathise with the officer's discomfort and hope that the current review of the Force working dress will result in a uniform that will not require en bloc changing and which will allow for some latitude to meet personal requirements. Yours sincerely S H Robbins SSP A KW

Firearms training range safety DEAR SIR, Regarding firearms training, although I agree with Mr Leung Man-chiu's idea of having different requirement levels for officers of different ages (OFFBEAT 629), his suggestion is not feasible because the current firearms training course is very intensive and his proposal would only cause administrative confusion. What concerns me more is that I find the current safety measures during training to be insufficient. Under current drills and practices, one training session requires officers to move swiftly from side to side, then to shoot from behind cover. I find many officers, irrespective of their age and due perhaps to stress, fatigue, discomfort or physical injury, unable to cope with the directive. My fear is that a frightened officer may fall down or faint (due to one of the reasons mentioned) and accidentally discharge his or her revolver with the potential of causing injuries to those in the vicinity. Will the Force consider erecting shooting booths to separate officers during their training? Yours sincerely S/Sgt Fu Lap-shun Central Division REPLY . . . DEAR SIR, The Annual Revolver Courses are designed to train our officers to meet the required standard of the Force. Qualified Firearms Instructors are deployed to coach officers who may have difficulty in catching up with required drills. Safety is of paramount importance for firearms training. The drills and practices incorporated in all firearms training programmes, including live firing sessions are carefully designed to meet operational requirements on one hand and not to compromise range safety on the other. Firearms Instructors are there to ensure the practices are conducted in a safe manner. Inadvertent discharges should not happen if the safety precautions are adhered to. Should an officer feel he or she cannot cope during a firearms training programme either due to illness or physical injury, they should make it known to range staff for appropriate arrangements. May I emphasis once again that any officer who is not sure of his or her own ability is welcomed to seek an instructors' advice. Firearms Instructors offer assistance as and when required. Lee Yeung-chi SP Weapons Training

Crazy Caption Contest "You idiot, Vice Squad agents are supposed to dress like customers!" CRAZY CAPTIONS flooded in thick and fast for this particular pic, with the winning entry going to Chris Emmett, SSP OPS KW, who contributed the above caption. OFFBEAT editorial committee members also liked: "Whoever said that Cheung Sams only fit Chinese girls?" (sent in by Jenny Chan Lai-ching, PT II, LMCDIV, BORDIST, NTN); and "Who says KHQ is staffed by men who act like old women? . . . some act quite young." (Thank you Steve Chandler, C&IIB). SIP Crime, LTDIST Dave Mattinson's contributions were pretty good as well: "- Sir, sir, I'm being sexually molested!" "- So I see, but we'll never be able to prove it in court." and, "I don't care how realistic your 'assets' look, I'm not authorising you to work undercover." Thank you all.