NB boosts officers' capability of financial investigation
A total of 39 crime stream officers from Regions and Districts, mostly Junior Police Officers, attended a training course on financial investigation organised by the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit (JFIU) and Financial Investigation Division (FID) of the Narcotics Bureau (NB) between April 26 and 30. Besides other important topics of financial investigation, the officers also acquired a better understanding of the legislation and the powers and techniques to tackle money laundering.
Among the officers was Woman Senior Inspector (WSIP) Leung Oi-lam from the Central District Investigation Team, who has handled many commercial crimes, including money laundering. She hopes to pursue a career with Commercial Crime Bureau or in financial investigation.
About the training course, WSIP Leung said: "The training course is very useful and I will apply what I have learned in my day-to-day job."
Speaking at the opening of the training course, JFIU Superintendent (SP) Ma Ping-yiu pointed out that NB recognised the demand for the training course in Districts and that the course was only part of NB's efforts to boost the Force's capability of tackling money laundering and financing of terrorism. After the training course, some officers will also undertake attachments to FID to brush up what they have learned from the course.
SP Ma said NB would run more training courses this year, and reminded officers interested in the courses to note the dates. Two more regional courses will be held between September 6 and 10, and from December 13 to 17, while international courses will run between October 4 and 8, and between November 8 and 12. Applications will be invited from Regions in due course.
Speaking at the closing of the training course, SP Gloria Yu Yin-ching said that as money laundering poses a major threat to the economic stability of all countries, the Force recognises the importance of seeking continuous improvements "in this key area" .
Pointing out that efforts to enhance the capability of frontline units have paid off, SP Yu said: "Units in Regions and Districts have been more effective in tackling money laundering in recent years. In 2006, 92 persons were convicted of money laundering. In 2007 the number rose to 179, 248 in 2008 and 307 in 2009. These increases show that the training course is an effective tool to tackle financial crime."
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