DTD focus groups develop from strength to strength
Police College Deputy Director Chu Ming-po presented on April 16 letters of appointment to new members of the Detective Training Division (DTD) Alumni Focus Group as well as letters of appreciation to outgoing members in recognition of their contribution in the past year.
Members of the focus group are drawn from the Inspectors, Sergeants and Constables who have graduated from one of the four major training courses run by DTD. They contribute their views on the practicality and adequacy of the training they had received.
At the tea reception following the letter presentation, Ms Chu encouraged the alumni members to exercise more critical and logical thinking to resolve problems and unravel the mysteries they encountered during the course of investigations. She also shared her experience of detecting several serious and complicated crime cases in Western District.
According to alumni member Inspector (IP) Au Pui-san of Tai Po District Crime Squad, the Alumni Focus Group provides an excellent avenue for frontline officers to express their views on their training needs directly to DTD. "During the Alumni Focus Group meeting, frontline officers can make comments and suggestions on the contents of DTD's training programmes, and this would definitely enhance the practicability of DTD courses," IP Au noted.
DTD set up the DTD Alumni Focus Group and Crime Managers Focus Group in 2009. Each group meets twice every year and offers frontline crime officers a face-to-face opportunity to share their experience with DTD instructors. All the feedback and views collected from the two focus groups have become increasingly important for reviewing course contents. It also helps identify training gaps and allows DTD to update all members on the curriculum changes that have been introduced.
DTD training courses
DTD is providing the following training courses:
(1) Basic Investigation Course (BIC) - a one-week course on basic investigation techniques for Uniform Branch officers;
(2) District Special Duties Squad Course (DSDSC)- a one-week course on handling vice, drugs and gambling investigations for officers who will be posted to DSDS. Completion of BIC is a prerequisite for DSDSC;
(3) Standard Criminal Investigation Course - a comprehensive nine-week criminal investigation course for officers suitable for appointment, or being posted, to District or Divisional crime units; and
(4) Advanced Criminal Investigation Course - a three-week course for officers considered for posting to Crime Wing, Regional or District crime units.
DTD also provides regular and ad hoc training on crime topics and investigations to other Force members, such as Recruit Police Constables, Probationary Inspectors, School Liaison Officers, Traffic officers, Complaints Against Police Office officers and staff from other government departments. Officers from the Public Security Bureau on the Mainland and the Macao Judiciary Police have also attended training at DTD.
The
focus
group
members are playing an important role in further improving
detective training