The inclusion of women officers in Police Tactical Unit companies is a historical move which was made only after careful deliberation.

As it was the first time women officers were posted to the tactical unit, their physical capabilities as well as their psychological outlook were areas that had to be considered.

Measures were taken during PTU company training to facilitate smooth co-operation and communication between female and male officers, and more importantly, to minimise misunderstanding.

Because team work is a key element of the PTU, training and duties for female officers are exactly the same as those for their male counterparts. This, coupled with the operational nature of PTU duties, makes body contact sometimes unavoidable during training.

It was under these circumstances that guidelines against unnecessary body contact between male and female officers were drawn up. Meanwhile, regular meetings with female representatives were held to provide a "two-way" communication channel.

Commandant PTU Peter Yam Tat-wing explains that measures to minimise body contact have been quite effective. So far no official complaint in this area has been lodged by a woman officer.

"Strict procedures were drawn up after different areas within PTU training were thoroughly examined." he said. "Under these measures, female officers are deployed to perform essential support role functions at the back of the "human wall" deployed during crowd management operations in internal security training. Orange-coloured stripes on the helmets of women officers for easy identification have also been introduced."

CSP Yam said only officers of the same sex practice in pairs during defensive tactics exercises; while during life saving exercises in the pool and physical training female officers are allowed to wear T-shirts and bicycle shorts under their normal physical training shorts or swimming gear. Instruction involving close body contact is carried out only by a physical training instructor of the same gender.

"Another area that may lead to misunderstandings is during assault course training. The format of wall-climbing has been reviewed, with male officers being briefed on proper methods in assisting their female counterparts to climb over walls without causing embarrassment. For example, men should push up a women using the soles of her boots or her legs instead of her bottom."

One of the roles of the Chief Inspector Support PTU is to co-ordinate matters in association with women officers under training at the Police Tactical Unit. A liaison meeting is held every four weeks to discuss issues raised by the Companies' female representatives. "I also meet women officers when they first arrive at PTU as a form of welcoming them and to answer any questions they might have. So there is sufficient communication channels," says CSP Yam. "Most are less concerned about body contact or having to train with the opposite sex than about whether or not they are physically strong enough to carry out their duties."

The proper method for males to assist their female PTU colleagues over a wall: They should help a woman over using the soles of her boots or her legs - not her bottom


The operational nature of PTU duties makes body contact sometimes unavoidable during training


"Most (women) are less concerned about having to train with the opposite sex than about whether or not they are physically strong enough"