NTN Regional Commander Cheung Siu-wah said this when he officiated at the Region's Youth Crime Prevention Briefing Session cum "Project Wild Goose" kicking-off ceremony held at NTN Regional Headquarters last month.

For tackling youth crimes, one of Mr Cheung's priorities is prevention and detection.

"There are a number of causes for juvenile delinquency," he observed. "Some youths lack proper guidance, and thus are liable to peers' influence. The consequences are they might go astray, become rebellious, or brush with the law."

In law enforcement, NTN HQ are going to carry out an inter-departmental operation called "Operation Quiettalker" against the juvenile gangs in the Region by teaming up with the Correctional Services Department and Social Welfare Department to keep the youths away from unruly elements.

At the same time, the four Districts in NTN Region have mounted similar operations, namely the Tuen Mun Police/School Network, Secondary School Ambassador Scheme and Project X in Tuen Mun District; Abundant Life Award Scheme, Project Shining in the Sun and Star Project in Tai Po District; Operation Breakthrough, Rainbow Operation and Community Youth Enhancement Scheme in Yuen Long District; and Community Youth Enhancement Scheme in Border District.

"Operation Quiettalker" is an inter-departmental effort aiming at tackling juvenile gang activities in NTN Region with stepped up inspection of black spots of youth crimes and places of public entertainment.

Observation will be mounted after school, and youths found loitering in public entertainment places without a good reason will be urged to go to police station for being picked up by their parents, and referred to the Social Welfare Department or voluntary organisations if necessary.

Meanwhile, with the support of the schools in the Region, the "School Crime Prevention Information Internet Programme" of RCPO NTN has made progress in disseminating crime prevention messages and collecting crime information from schools, helping the police take prompt actions accordingly.

Under the "Project Wild Goose", which will end in July 2006, volunteers are being recruited to provide guidance to Form 1 to 3 students in NTN Region or young students having breached minor school regulations. After completing a three-day training course run by the Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service in Tai Po last month, a number of volunteers are poised to start their mission.

NTN RC Cheung Siu-wah outlines his strategies for tackling youth crimes

• English version only