Several officers have boosted their skills in child abuse investigation through comprehensive courses conducted by an internationally renowned academic.

Dr Monit Cheung, Associate Professor of the University of Houston's Graduate School of Social Work, conducted Hong Kong's first ever train-the-trainers certificate programme in December and January, on child protection special investigation with special emphasis on child sexual abuse and video-recorded interviews.

Six participants from the Force and Social Welfare Department, including officers, clinical psychologists and social workers attended the advanced programme to make them qualified instructors. Meanwhile, another 18 officers and social workers participated in a 10-day course last month conducted by Dr Cheung and the six new trainers, learning the basics of child abuse handling, video-recorded interviews and related topics. The course included legislation, psychology of offenders and victims, statement taking, forensics and inter-departmental co-operation .

Train-the-trainers course trainees graduated January 9 while those on the basic training course were presented certificates on January 19.

Dr Cheung has been helping the Force and SWD conduct basic training courses since 1995, seeing some 270 graduates in 12 batches.

She said: "The handling of child abuse cases, especially sexual ones, has to be done with utmost professionalism for which rigorous training is a must. "Hong Kong has been relying on overseas experts over the years and I really think local trainers familiar with the culture and legislation, would make the job much easier. Which is why this tailor-made train-the-trainer course, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, was organised.

"I am deeply impressed by the eagerness and devotion demonstrated by those in both courses and hope they continue to improve themselves and bring this expertise to their colleagues."

Several trainees spoke to OffBeat after the graduation, here's what they had to say about the course.

Woman Superintendent (CPPU) Shirley Chu Ming-po: "I am lucky to have had the opportunity to participate in the course so soon after taking up this new post. It was an eye-opener which will assist me in the job."

Police Clinical Psychologist Ephraem Tsui Pui-wang: "My treatment of sex offenders while serving in the Correctional Services Department offered me considerable insights into offenders' psyche. In-depth knowledge from this course on the plight of victims and their families, would facilitate my daily work and make me a more-capable instructor for basic training courses in future."

Woman Senior Inspector Fong Po-shan of New Territories South Child Abuse Investigation Unit: "Co-operation amongst government departments is essential to the successful handling of child abuse cases, and I've learned quite a lot about the work of social workers in this area."

Detective Police Constable Lai Kwok-kwai of Hong Kong Island CAIU: "After attending the basic training course, I got to know that as frontline police officers, we're not just out there to arrest offenders. The protection of innocent children should also be the top priority."

Senior Social Work Officer Chang Lam Sook-yee: "Among all types of child abuse cases, sexual ones might be the most difficult to investigate so close co-operation and mutual trust between police and social workers is very important. This training course was definitely an excellent channel for both parties to improve mutual understanding."

The training honed officers' skills for interviewing young abuse victims

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