Members of the public have become more concerned about their rights and have higher expectations of the services provided by police officers. Some members might turn vocal and confrontational when the officers enforce the law.

 

It has been noted that there is a rising trend whereby members of the public video-record incidents, particularly the confrontational situations that they have encountered with Police, and then post such footages on social media like "YouTube". Their intention is to air grievances and dissatisfactions, but officers may not be accustomed to being filmed and do not appear to know how to make a response in a confrontational situation.  There are no channels to determine whether their reactions shown in the videos are appropriate unless complaints have been lodged.

 

The Force Committee on Complaints Prevention has spearheaded a complaints prevention project known as "Lighthouse" with a view to enhancing the professionalism of frontline officers.

 

The project comprises two parts. The first part is to recognise those officers who have made professional responses in the confrontational situations video-recorded by the public and uploaded on "YouTube".  Twenty-six officers in nine videos have been identified and Chief Superintendent Complaints & Internal Investigations Branch presented letters of appreciation to them for their professional performances on September 11.

 

The second part is a Force-wide competition. To support frontline officers and identify best practices to equip them for handling confrontational situations professionally, five videos with different themes will be produced, the themes being Public Order Event, Late Night Violence, Traffic Matters, Stop/Search & Stop/Questions, and Land Disputes, all of which have the common elements that have led to confrontational situations.

 

Two categories of entry are being invited and the Regional Complaints Prevention Committee (RCPC) will submit entries for the first category. Five scenarios will be allocated to the RCPCs in accordance with the characteristics of each Region. RCPC Hong Kong Island will be given the theme of Public Order Event; RCPC Kowloon West, scenarios of Late Night Violence; RCPC Kowloon East, Traffic Matters; RCPC New Terrritories South, Stop & Question and Stop & Search incidents; and RCPC New Territories North, Land Disputes.  Each RCPC will provide the best practices on how to deal with confrontational situations in scripts or films.

 

The second category is open to Force members, including auxiliary officers.  They can join the competition individually or in a group and choose one of the five themes to come up with the best practices.  Again, entries in scripts or films are welcomed.

 

An Adjudicating Panel comprising representatives of the Independent Police Complaints Council, Psychological Services Group, staff associations, Police College, Crime Wing and Police Tactical Unit will screen and shortlist entries. Winners will be selected according to professionalism (ability to appreciate and contain a situation), proficiency in law and police powers and procedures in response to the given scenarios.

 

The competition will close on November 30 and adjudication will begin on December 11.  The winning entries will be refined as a training package to be rolled out for frontline officers in early February next year.  The prize presentation ceremony has been scheduled for March 7.

 

 

Entries can be submitted through PEN: cip-nt4-capo-nt or dispatched to CIP T4 CAPO NT. Enquires on the project can be made to CIP Crystal Ng at 2860-1930.

 

Furthermore, in order to provide more support to frontline officers, CAPO has reviewed 120 concluded complaint cases and classified them into three categories: (1) Upon scrutiny by IPCC, it is recommended that the concerned officers have performed professionally in handling the incident, (2) Upon endorsement by IPCC, the complaint is classified as "False", (3) Upon endorsement by IPCC, the complaint is classified as "No Fault". CAPO will give compliments in recognition of the professional performance of the officers in this regard.