Initiated by Mongkok District Commander Steve Carruthers, a workshop was held on October 6 with a view to improving frontline officers' ability to handle informers by providing guidelines for vetting informers and their registration, and for recording contacts between police and informers.

After Mr Carruthers had given an opening address, guest speaker, Chief Inspector Tsang Yiu-wo from the Regional Crime Unit 1 Kowloon West briefed the audience on all legal issues and procedural matters relating to informer handling.

More than 60 officers attended the workshop. During the experience-sharing session, officers raised many questions and expressed their views. The seminar had gone a long way towards giving the audience a clear concept of informer handling.