Strategic intelligence leads the way
The Force and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) ran the courses jointly, with guest speakers coming from Interpol and the Metropolitan Police Service.
The first StIC was held in September 2002 as part of the CP's Three-Year Strategic Action Plan, having its origins in an AFP National Strategic Intelligence Course. Superintendent Steve Handley of Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB) attended the AFP course in Canberra in 2001. He was so impressed with the course that he set about devising a strategic intelligence training programme with the AFP to develop the Force's strategic intelligence capability.
Kicking off the course, CIB Chief Superintendent Ng Sai-kuen, said the course was aimed at achieving long-term objectives. He encouraged the participants to be proactive, visionary and innovative.
Senior Inspector Tirzah Chan, widely regarded as an expert in the field of intelligence analysis, had been heavily involved in the course's preparation work and instructions. He was assisted by Federal Agent Glenn Buscombe of the AFP, who spent a month in Hong Kong as a course instructor.
A total of 48 participants have been trained in the use of strategic intelligence research methods and advanced analytical tools, such as Morphological Analysis, Process Mapping, Forecasting and Prediction Techniques, as well as Threat Assessment. In applying knowledge and in order to successfully complete the course, the participants had worked in syndicates to prepare large-scale research projects on a diverse range of crime issues currently affecting the Force, such as prostitution, quick cash crime and the impact of Avian Influenza on law enforcement in Hong Kong. Course mentors were on hand to guide the syndicates through their research.
The research projects were presented to a large audience, including a panel. The four Crime Wing Bureau Heads and the AFP Senior Liaison Officer in Hong Kong, Mr Sharon McCarthy, were panel members of the second course. The participants had competed for a panel award for the best syndicate presentation. In the first course, the panel award was presented to Syndicate C, on behalf of which Woman Senior Inspector Monica Au Yeung Mun-yee of CIB gave a thorough presentation on the narcotics situation in Hong Kong.
Syndicate D won the award for the second course after Hong Kong Island Regional Intelligence Unit Chief Insepctor Ken Pemberton, and his team had given the audience an exceptional insight into the issue of vehicle crime in Hong Kong.
In fact, the panel was very impressed with all the presentations. Organised Crime and Triad Bureau Chief Superintendent Stephen Fung Kin-man and Commercial Crime Bureau Acting Chief Superintendent Patrick Law Ping-kuen had praised the quality of the presentations, especially given the short time in which the research had to be carried out.
Meanwhile, Narcotics Bureau Chief Superintendent Kenny Ip Lau-chuen, also provided some very positive feedback of the course. He said the course was very useful and suggested that the Force could run more courses of this nature. He also suggested that Major Formations could be approached to recommend the topics on strategic issues that they were researching into. This would offer the Force a "quick win" in the form of intensive research on a particular issue within a relatively short time-scale.
Another major feature of the course was a seminar on "Intelligence Led Policing" held on February 18 with Training Wing under the umbrella of their Management Development Programme. Filling the Police Training School auditorium, 250 senior officers, including Director of Crime and Security, Mr Chau Foo-cheong, and Director of Management Services, Mr Mike Dowie, heard a diverse panel discuss intelligence-led policing from various perspectives.
On the panel were the Assistant Director of the Interpol Criminal Analysis Sub-Directorate in Lyon, Mr Jan Garton, Detective Superintendent Steve Kupis of the Metropolitan Police Service, and AFP's National Manager of Intelligence, Dr Grant Wardlaw. The seminar gave officers a unique insight into the concepts of intelligence-led policing and strategic intelligence.
The two courses were well received by all participants, including the Deputy Chief of the 7th Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, Mr Zhang Jiongwei. Mr Zhang commented: "This has been a very rewarding experience, particularly the syndicate work which has given me the chance to discuss strategy with officers from the Hong Kong Police and other law enforcement agencies. Although we may have different perspectives, we have common objectives and I believe we have all benefited a great deal."
Mr Xiao Wei, also from the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, was surprised at the novel application of sociological principles to police work. "I studied sociology at university and so it was very interesting to see similar research methods being applied to a law enforcement environment. It was a very stimulating course and I personally have learnt a great deal from it."
Force officers on the course were equally fulsome in their praise. Senior Inspector David Williams of CIB said: "I have just joined the Strategic Intelligence Research Section of CIB and so a course like this is essential for my work. Frankly speaking, I have been thoroughly impressed with the standard of instruction and hope to get involved on the training side with future courses."
The final presentations and closing ceremony of the second course was held at the Central Government Offices on February 27, with Assistant Commissioner (Crime), Mr Lo Yik-kee, presenting certificates of completion to the participants. In closing, Mr Lo praised the efforts of all participants and expressed his sincere gratitude to the AFP for their support for the Force's Strategic Intelligence Programme.
