Following a number of cruelty to animal incidents, various inter-departmental meetings have taken place to review current procedures. The participants, namely, representatives from the Force, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, had met several times with a view to drawing up new operating protocols to enhance inter-departmental co-operation in handling reports of cruelty to animals.

After consultations with relevant stakeholders, the Force has recently issued new guidelines to frontline officers to provide additional guidance on the handling of reports of cruelty to animals and to raise awareness of animal welfare.

Under the new guidelines, on receiving a report of an allegation of cruelty to animal, police officers will attend the scene. If there is suspicion that a case of animal cruelty has occurred, crime officers will take over the investigation. As Crime officers have been specifically trained in all aspects of criminal investigation, they are in the best position to deal with such reports. The new guidelines ensure consistency in the Force's approach to handling reports of cruelty to animals.

The new Force guidelines are to be re-examined in parallel with all other current orders within the Force with regard to animals. Comments from frontline officers have been sought in the process. Taking into account the feedback received and new inter-departmental operating protocols, the Force will update its guidelines on handling reports of animal cruelty and incorporate them into the Force's internal orders accordingly.