Superintendent (Support) of Crime Wing, Shirley Chu, told OffBeat that appropriate and proper handling of any domestic disputes by officers would help prevent tragedies from occurring.

"We think that a change in the attitude towards domestic violence and an increase in the awareness of its seriousness are the most important factors for making our work a success," she said. Ms Chu is also the head of the Force's Child Protection Policy Unit (CPPU).

"This is why we have been enhancing training for Police officers, especially frontline officers, to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle such cases in a proper way."

Domestic violence has already been included in the basic training syllabus for new Police recruits since 1997 and is an element in the continuation training for serving officers. A training package, which places emphasis on the attitude of officers and referral to the Social Welfare Department and other non-governmental organisations, was produced and distributed to all districts in 2001. A series of train-the-trainer sessions for Training and Staff Relations Officers was conducted early last year to equip them to set up training classes for frontline officers in their respective districts.

A Family Support Service Information Card with useful contact numbers of available services for both victims and abusers has been produced. "Consent of Referral" is also included in the card to allow Police officers to refer cases to the Social Welfare Department for further assistance. An aide-memoire card, which provides guidelines at a glance for handling domestic violence incidents, is now being carried by frontline officers.

"We have to handle these cases with compassion, empathy and impartiality," she said. CPPU has extended its work to cover policy matters concerning sexual violence, juvenile crime, child pornography and abuse of the elderly in addition to child abuse and spouse battering that CPPU was initially required to handle when it was established in 1995.

The development of partnership with other government departments and non-governmental organisations in handling such incidents is another key area of CPPU's work.

Last November, a pilot scheme called 'Seeds of Hope' Crisis Intervention Team was launched in conjunction with the Harmony House and the Hospital Authority in Tuen Mun to provide crisis intervention services for both victims and abusers involved in domestic violence.

"Under the scheme, a mechanism to co-ordinate the handling of these cases by the three bodies has been set up to allow Police and Tuen Mun Hospital to refer cases of domestic violence to two social workers of Harmony House for immediate counselling services," Ms Chu said, emphasising that close liaison with various concerned government departments and social services agencies was important to ensure that distressed families received the necessary care and attention.

The effectiveness of the scheme will be reviewed in about six months' time, she added.

Shirley Chu urges appropriate handling of domestic disputes