Enhanced training programme
for JPOs and junior Inspectors

2 Photos

The Government has approved a Force proposal to use part of the savings from the Enhanced Productivity Programme to launch a three-year training and development scheme for about 3,500 junior Police officers (JPOs) and junior Inspectors.

The approval followed Deputy Commissioner Management, Mr Lee Ming-kwai's disclosure during his opening speech at the Force Learning and Development Exhibition last November that permission was being sought from the Government to use part of the savings from the Enhanced Productivity Programme to launch the training programme.

Announcing the good news, Assistant Commissioner Training, Mr David Thomas, said the development programme would meet the ever-changing challenges faced by the Force in an increasingly sophisticated society.

"We are always looking for ways to enhance the knowledge and capability of our officers, and to improve the quality of our service," Mr Thomas told OffBeat.

"In the past, the sponsorship offered to JPOs and junior Inspectors to attend self-development courses, both overseas and locally, was not as high in proportion as that of their counterparts at higher ranks," Mr Thomas said.

"The three-year programme will greatly increase training and learning opportunities for officers, particularly amongst the JPO ranks."

The proposed programme, which runs from last financial year to the year 2003/2004, will provide for additional training opportunities in overseas and Mainland courses, in the attachment of Police officers to non-government organisations (NGOs) and other large renowned private and public organisations.

There will also be sponsorship of officers to attend short courses and seminars offered by various learning institutes.

In an interview with OffBeat, Force Training Officer, Superintendent Simon Leung, said: "Regarding training courses on the Mainland, a one-day Mainland Familiarisation Visit has been incorporated into the Station Sergeant Promotion Course. About 180 newly promoted SSGTs are expected to benefit under the proposed scheme.

"The first one-day Mainland Familiarisation Visit for 21 trainees of the SSGT Promotion Course took place on March 22 in Zhuhai. Details of the event had already been covered by OffBeat in issue 726. The next visit is scheduled for June," Mr Leung added.

Another Force Training Officer, Superintendent Vincent Ma, said: "The Training Development Bureau (TDB) is liaising with Jinan University and Zhongshan University regarding the organisation of courses for 270 JPOs and 30 inspectorate officers."

"In addition to existing overseas training courses, we are liaising with Singapore Police College, Sussex Police College, Scottish Police College, Australia Police Staff College and Victoria Police College to identify suitable courses for 60 JPOs," Training Wing Superintendent, Ms Cheung Fung-yee, told OffBeat.

"To broaden officers' horizons and also to strengthen multi-agency collaboration in handling juvenile delinquency, the Force has also designed an 11-day attachment programme in which a total of 72 JPOs and Inspectors will be attached to four different NGOs, including the Chinese YMCA, Hong Kong YWCA, Hong Kong Christian Service, and Yang Memorial Methodist Social Service," said Force Training Officer, Superintendent Vincent Yeung.

"Participants will also come under the guidance of professors from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to consolidate their learning experiences. The first batch of the training programme will start in mid-May.

"Another 36 Inspectors and 36 Non-Commissioned Officers will be attached to private or public organisations under the coordination of a local academic institution commencing in September," Mr Yeung added.

In addition, TDB is working closely with local universities and the Hong Kong Management Association to identify suitable short courses for about 1,500 JPOs and Inspectors. A series of seminars on stress management, information technology, equal opportunities and other contemporary topics will also be arranged for about 1,200 JPOs and Inspectors.

Application to join the training will be published Force wide in the near future. Do watch for these valuable learning opportunities.

Mr Thomas briefs his officers on the three-year training scheme for JPOs and junior Inspectors