Environmental Scan
Report 2013 released
Service Quality Wing (SQW) launched the Environmental Scan Report 2013 (ESR 2013) on February 8, which is now available on POINT.
Publication of the ESR 2013 heralds the beginning of the next strategic planning cycle, which will examine the current Strategic Directions and culminate at the end of the year with the delivery of the Strategic Action Plan 2014-2016.
The Force has been producing environmental scan reports since 2000. Each one has covered three main subject areas: an External Review, an Internal Review and a summary of the more significant international policing developments.
Work on the report began in July last year when SQW recruited five university interns, four of whom are Mentees of the Force's Police Mentorship Programme. These five undergraduates were tasked to undertake external research by using the PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental & Legal) model.
According to Superintendent (ES SQ) Glenn O'Neill, the body of information they produced was "diverse, thought-provoking and detailed, with the students bringing credit to their respective institutions. Some of them aspire to joining the Force and it is hoped that, based on the excellent work produced, they will realise this worthwhile ambition."
Mr O'Neill also highlighted the very able contribution provided by the three Junior Police Officer mentees, Police Constable (PC) Mandy Leung of Emergency Unit Kowloon West, PC Don Man of Special Duties Squad Yuen Long District and PC Jason Cheung of Regional Missing Person Unit New Territories South, who assisted in the research into international policing developments. "It is pleasing to see that at all levels of the organisation, the Force possesses such intelligent, independent thinking and diligent officers," he said.
One of the crucial issues in devising an environmental scan is to decide what information to include and what to exclude. In compiling the ESR 2013 the editors were guided by Assistant Commissioner (Service Quality) Peter Morgan, who asked them to make it a "relevant and useful document for police managers".
Key trends and emerging issues
Many law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are under increasing budgetary pressures and are therefore required to focus their resources so as to maximise efficiency. One of the ways to do this is to anticipate what challenges may lie ahead, or in other words, to adopt a proactive stance. The first step in the process is to develop ideas about what the future may hold for policing and this is where a thorough and rigorous scanning of the external and internal environment can be helpful.
The ESR 2013 is composed of factual information plus views and opinions from not only Hong Kong but also around the world. The objective of the report is to assist in the identification of the key trends and emerging issues that are shaping the world.
Scanning reveals many events while grouping these seemingly disparate events together can subsequently reveal emerging issues, which in turn can develop into established trends and strategic issues for LEAs to tackle.
Mr Morgan noted: "In today's fast changing world it is important that we as an organisation are able to react quickly and decisively to both threats and opportunities. Scanning our environment is the first step in that process. Whilst the ESR 2013 is not intended to be either definitive or exhaustive, it is hoped that the document can be used to facilitate discussion and consideration of the possible, probable and preferable future directions of the Force."
Acting Chief Superintendent (PR SQ) Josephine Lau thanked all the stakeholders who had made contributions to the production of the Report, including representatives from all Major Formations and the four staff associations.
To enhance understanding of the Report and to facilitate development of Major Formation Action Plans in future, two briefing sessions were held for the benefit of inspectorate officers and above on February 19 and 20.
For further discussion on the content of the Report, contact Ms Lau or Mr O'Neill.
Mr
Morgan thanks the three JPO mentees for their contributions to the
research into international policing developments