Twelve officers recently attended an Advanced Management Course at the International Law Enforcement Academy, Roswell (ILEA Roswell), New Mexico, USA, along with five officers from the Customs and Excise Department and the Immigration Department. The course is part of the Force's Overseas Development Course Scheme.

The officers were Chief Inspectors Steven Tait and Lau Cheng-fung, Senior Inspectors Sit Ka-ho, Cheung Lap-ho, Wong Poon-yam, Au Wing-leung, Li Kwai-wah, Chan Wui-nang, Law Shui-sum and Po Chun-kuen, as well as Woman Senior Inspectors Kung Hing-fun and Law Lai-yi.

Also attending the management course were delegations from the Mainland Public Security Bureau and the Cambodian National Police.

ILEA Roswell was established in 2001 by the U.S. Department of State and Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs to:

* promote effective co-operation among law enforcement agencies worldwide;

* provide an environment within law enforcement that encourages continual personal and professional development;

* prepare law enforcement management officials for increased responsibilities, and

* improve the managerial capabilities of programme participants in combating international crime.

One of the highlights of the course was attendance in an explosive field trip to the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Centre, which is a research and development facility of the New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology in Socorro, New Mexico, that conducts experiments on explosive detonations, chemical analysis, explosive characterisation and explosives processing and formulation. This facility is contracted by the Department of Homeland Security to teach first response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear type incidents.

The Hong Kong delegates watched several explosive demonstrations, including detonation of a car filled with 300 pounds of fertilizer and diesel fuel, and were amazed by the explosive power and the extent of devastation caused.

Back in Hong Kong, the delegates see their study as a valuable opportunity to share experiences and acquire a better understanding of the importance of effective co-operation among law enforcement agencies worldwide. It also enables Force members to broaden their international outlook through networking with their counterparts from neighbouring countries.

The officers have greatly benefited from their ILEA Course