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Courting their support roles
 Court support: SIP Ng Siu-fung at work in the North Kowloon Magistracy police post |
As front-line formations conduct daily anti-crime activities, there are other officers performing less-publicised, yet no-less essential, duties.
To learn more about the work of some support units, OffBeat interviewed the Force's Officer-in-Charge at North Kowloon Magistracy Albert Ng Siu-fung and some of his team.
Senior Inspector Ng previously worked as a Court Prosecutor in the same building in 1988, and has served in various operations formations and the Police Training School (PTS).
"The post was a new challenge. In front-line formations, you can have satisfaction through successful detection of crime. As an instructor at PTS, one can feel happy seeing the progress made by recruits. In the magistracy, the most gratifying thing is we can assist officers by ensuring smooth hearings of their cases in court," SIP Ng said.
North Kowloon mainly deals with cases from Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po, Shek Kip Mei, Cheung Sha Wan and Ho Man Tin Police Stations. Mr Ng said it could be considered one of the busiest in Hong Kong with more than 40 defendants on remand appearing daily, occasionally reaching up to 80. More than 60 appear on court bail.
Things get hectic immediately when defendants arrive at 8.30 am. Body searches are conducted along with appropriate paperwork to ensure Duty Lawyers meet the defendants, all of which must be completed before proceedings start at 9.30 am.
 PC Chan King-chung |
Although sometimes tedious, SIP Ng said nothing had been missed so far in the body searches and no one had escaped custody during his time there. Accompanying defendants in custody and maintaining law and order in the courtroom, officers also assist case officers, such as through arranging interpreters and the timely submission of evidence to the court. When a defendant is ordered by a magistrate to remain in Hong Kong, court officers also inform the Criminal Records Bureau.
SIP Ng said for a smooth case, co-operation between officers and other government departments like the judiciary, was paramount.
Officers also catered to court visits by PTS recruits, students and newly-arrived Mainlanders.
Like many of her colleagues, Woman Police Constable Jessica Chung Pui-shan applied for the magistracy post.
"To raise my academic qualifications, I applied to work in courts as the working hours there were more stable and made it easier for me to study in my spare time," she said, adding that her efforts have paid off.
With only one pass in her school certificate examination, she has since earned five more passes and started attending a diploma course on office administration at Chinese University.
 WPC Jessica Chung |
The court posting has also upped her physical fitness by allowing time for regular exercise and provided for some excellent performances in recent running events.
Police Constable Chan King-chung also applied for the post almost three years ago, having worked in various front-line units. He said the post was a challenge yet he also was able to find time to complete an electrician course.
The pair said they have learned a lot from working in the court, a definite plus for their careers garnering top knowledge on court procedures, lawyers' tactics and common mistakes made by case officers.
"Every unit in the Force offers something for one to learn. The main point is whether or not you are determined to acquire such knowledge," PC Chan said.
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