A new transfer policy was introduced in June for Inspectorate officers to be posted to Marine Region.

The policy was developed by Marine Regional staff in conjunction with Personnel Wing. It's two-fold objective: To maintain an equitable distribution of Inspectors and Senior Inspectors between Land and Marine Regions, thereby ensuring a sufficient supply of manpower to the latter; and secondly, to achieve cross-fertilisation of experience between the two, benefiting the Force in the long term.

Officers posted to Marine will not necessarily be volunteers - transfers will be arranged through the Postings Conference and two officers from each disbanding Police Tactical Unit Company will be posted to Marine. These IPs will normally undertake a two-to-three year tour of duty, during which they will be trained to attain the Marine Police Efficiency Certificate (MPEC). Should they wish to go on to the Marine Police Navigational Command Certificate (MPNCC), the tour would be extended to four years.

Marine Senior Superintendent (Administration) Geoff Merrick said:"The new policy has brought about a host of benefits which include a cross pollination of experience, rotational transfers of IPs to and from Marine and the building up of a larger pool of Marine-experienced officers.

"Inspectors can do a tour as part of their career development, getting Marine experience and going out again to another formation, and returning at a later stage in their career."

He said the policy brought other benefits such as cross-fertilisation of talent, allowing officers to learn, develop and share an assortment of skills. In the years ahead, it will offer a large pool of officers across the Force with Marine qualifications who can be brought into the Region at anytime. They can share their experience earned outside and vice-versa. During a Marine tour, IPs like their land counterparts, are exposed to managerial practices. They will develop their skills in leadership, planning and mounting operations. They gain seamanship, navigational training and attain associated formal qualifications.

One officer who recently benefited from the new policy was Woman Inspector Jacqueline Wong. With 16 months in Marine she acquired the MPEC qualification and is now in her new post as Wan Chai Division Patrol Sub-unit Team Four Commander.

WIP Wong said:"In Marine, teamwork is a high priority as we work very close together as a crew aboard a launch. This and the command skills learned in Marine can be equally applied in land formations. During my time in Marine I learned a lot in addition to practical police experience as there are so many courses available, not just navigation and engineering, but also first aid, fire fighting, sea survival and others.

"Commanding a patrol sub-unit of about 40 officers is similar to being a Launch Commander. Time in Marine brought a sense of command to my new post. Also, Marine command tactics and administration experience equipped me well for my land post."

She said her human resource and personnel-management skills were also greatly enhanced.

"On a launch you do shifts of up to 24 hours and not only must you maintain the discipline of your crew, you effectively live with them and must develop managerial skills and camaraderie, which is experience I may not have got in outside formations."

Meanwhile, Inspector Sam Wong Shu-chung is a Sub-unit Commander heading his own launch in Marine East Division. He transferred to Marine at the same time as WIP Wong, however, he decided to push for the MPNCC qualification instead.

"I want to get it before going back to a land post. By aiming for this qualification I believe I will broaden my sphere of experience and learn more than other IPs who will not have this Marine knowledge," he said.

Mr Merrick said a Marine posting now offered golden opportunities for Inspectorate officers, not only a wide range of operational experience but also career options. They could also gain very valuable Marine qualifications, and management and administrative experience. Their interpersonal relationship and teamwork skills would be greatly enhanced.

Officers interested in Marine duties can (in accordance with FPM 20-22) apply for transfer to Marine Region.

The new policy has benefited IPs like Sam and Jacqueline Wong