Narcotics
The Narcotics Bureau was restructured during 2000 to enable better intelligence-led operations and faster response to the challenges of the fluid illicit drug situation. While heroin has been a longstanding problem in Hong Kong, the recent dramatic rise in psychotropic drug trafficking and abuse at 'rave' parties has required a different approach. With young people often involved with these illicit drugs, the Force has had to adopt new enforcement strategies to successfully contain the problem. Tight policing of dance parties has proved a good deterrent, while other authorities have stepped up education about the dangers of drug abuse. In June 2000, the Narcotics Bureau made a record seizure of over 240 000 MDMA (ecstasy) tablets when a Dutch-Chinese man was apprehended in a Kowloon hotel.

The Bureau devotes most of its resources to countering Hong Kong-connected syndicates involved in orchestrating international drug trafficking ventures. Particular attention is paid to tackling cross-boundary trafficking through close liaison and cooperation with the Mainland authorities. During 2000, this resulted in six successful operations and the seizure of 359 kg of heroin, 300 kg of 'ice' and 7 000 kg of a methamphetamine precursor chemical.

Similar cooperation with enforcement bodies around the world led to a number of successful operations — mostly overseas — that helped disrupt international drug trafficking through arrests and seizure of substantial quantities of heroin, 'ice', amphetamines and ecstasy.

Criminal Intelligence
The Force continues to attach great importance to intelligence gathering in the prevention and interdiction of crime. Intelligence officers throughout the Force have access to a sophisticated computer system that enables them to collate, disseminate and retrieve intelligence information at any hour. During the year, more than 50 officers were trained in the use of 'i2', a computer programme used for conducting criminal intelligence analysis. Plans are now in hand to upgrade the current computer system to a multi-media facility that also supports the use of Chinese.

The Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB) works closely with overseas counterparts and sends officers to attend relevant courses as well as conducting specialist courses for visiting law enforcement officers.

An intelligence operation conducted jointly by CIB and OCTB in early 2000 led to the neutralisation of an extremely well organised cross-boundary loan-sharking and debt collection syndicate, with the arrest of 43 people and the restraint of crime proceeds amounting to $40 million. Similar cooperation helped eliminate an international human smuggling syndicate in December when 12 Mainland stowaways were intercepted and 17 people including core members of the syndicate were arrested.

The success of the operations demonstrated the effectiveness of the Force Criminal Intelligence System in tackling sophisticated criminal syndicates.

Child Protection
The Child Protection Policy Unit (CPPU) is responsible for the formulation and implementation of Force policies on child abuse, domestic violence, sexual violence and juvenile crimes. It continued to provide support to Regional Child Abuse Investigation Units and other crime units investigating cases involving children and the mentally incapacitated. During the year, a police officer and a police clinical psychologist were trained and accredited to conduct basic training in child protection special investigations.

CPPU works closely with overseas law enforcement agencies in combating commercial sexual exploitation of children. Experience gained in this field was used to help the Government draft legislation relating to the prevention of child pornography that will go before the Legislative Council in due course.

The sensitive issue of how to handle cases of domestic violence prompted a review of police procedures that resulted in a new training programme designed to help officers understand the problem and provide quality service for victims and their families. Since May 2000, CPPU has also collaborated with concerned departments and organisations to improve services for victims of sexual violence.

Criminal Records
Any person convicted of a crime in Hong Kong is registered with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), which maintains a comprehensive database that can be used by members of the Force, government departments and the judiciary. In 2000, that database gained 90 530 new conviction records.

Through its 'Enhanced Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System' (EPONICS), the Bureau provides information about missing people, wanted people and outstanding warrants of arrest. The system dealt with 4.7 million enquiries in 2000. Investigators can also make use of a computerised system that helps identify suspects by their modus operandi. Victims and witnesses to crime can view potential suspects through a computerised photo library that categorises individuals by features and other characteristics.

Crime Prevention
One of the best ways to reduce crime is to help people learn how to avoid it. The Crime Prevention Bureau (CPB) promotes the principles of self-protection through the provision of target-specific security advice. This service has been enhanced on a broader level through close liaison with professional bodies representing the banking, hotel, jewellery, property development, insurance, security, motor vehicle and property management sectors. Further advances in the areas of building design and computer security were made in the past year.

One of CPB's most successful ventures in advising the public about domestic security and juvenile victimisation has been its Crime Prevention Bus and the 'Robotcop'. Moving with the times, the bus was given a new look during the year.

As part of the Force's ongoing drive to incorporate the use of information technology to improve its service to the public, the Bureau maintains a bilingual internet web site which provides the latest crime prevention information on-line 24 hours a day. In addition, a fax-on-demand, call-fax system is available for members of the public to receive crime prevention advice.

Identification
The Identification Bureau continued to provide quality support for the Force and other law enforcement agencies. Further refinements were made to the Computer Assisted Fingerprint Identification System that has revolutionised the speed and accuracy of identification. During the year, the system enabled the Bureau to accurately establish the criminal history of some 60 000 individuals and at the same time link over 700 people to unsolved crimes — some of which were of outstanding notoriety.

The success of the Bureau in identifying both finger and palm prints has relied heavily on the commitment of Scenes of Crime officers who, through efficient co-ordination, managed to attend 89 per cent of crime scenes within 45 minutes of being called. They were ably supported by the Advanced Technology Section, which uses chemicals and other scientific means to detect prints on exhibits, which linked 482 suspects to crimes. All told, the Bureau identified over 1 600 suspects involved in 1 475 cases — 208 being serious crimes.

Also gathering valuable evidence is the Photographic Section, whose officers attended some 4 000 crime scenes. During the year, the section produced over one million photographs and slides.