Have you ever noticed that there is a unique unit in the Force comprised solely of women officers?

They are referred to as Tango Company, and to find out more about this special group of officers, OffBeat paid a visit to Police Tactical Unit Headquarters in Fanling to attend their Annual Field Day on October 12.

The one-day session saw some 200 Tango Coy officers practising a variety of crowd management and internal security techniques including the handling of suspects and the use of various types of equipment.

Tango Coy Superintendent Mariana Cheung Fung-yee said that Tango Coy officers are not attached to PTU. Unlike PTU companies, consisting of both regular male and female officers, Tango Coy officers' functions are a secondary duty for a two-year term.

"We work in different formations and have our own routine duties to perform," said WSP Cheung. "We assist regular PTU colleagues and Internal Security Wing conduct different operations such as crowd management. We also participate in special escort duties and anti-crime patrols when required.

"We are usually deployed to assist with crowd management at large public events such as Lunar New Year fairs, fireworks displays and international events such as the recent Fortune Global Forum, as well as public processions and meetings," she said.

Consisting of five platoons, including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon West, Kowloon East, New Territories South and New Territories North, Tango Coy is primarily responsible for taking care of the elderly, children and women attending public events. Of these platoons, HKI Platoon is called upon most frequently for crowd management duty.

"Since our primary duty is conducting crowd management, the main focus of our training is in this area. The Annual Field Day offers us a great opportunity to consolidate our knowledge," added WSP Cheung.

"Our duties are very essential to public safety and we usually adopt a soft approach when doing our job," said WSP Cheung.

Apart from the Annual Field Day, each platoon also holds its own PTU training days twice a year. Additional exercises are also arranged to instruct officers regarding the various tactics applicable to different kinds of operations.

OffBeat spoke to some of its members about their feelings and experiences.

Airport District Woman Police Constable Chen Yuet-yu said that she found her job in Tango Coy very meaningful.

"Although we serve in Tango Coy as a secondary duty, we carry out our jobs with professionalism. We not only assist regular PTU colleagues maintain law and order at major event venues, but also ensure the safety of participants," she said.

WPC Chan Ka-yee of New Territories North Region said that she was proud to be a member of Tango Coy. "I have been deployed to assist with more than 10 crowd management operations since I joined Tango Coy in 1999. Our contribution is recognised by the Force, and that's why we are called to assist with crowd management at large public events."