Zero tolerance towards
soccer bookmaking
"Zero Tolerance" best describes the Force stance on soccer bookmaking, according to Assistant Commissioner Crime, Mr Peter Yam Tat-wing.
Speaking to OffBeat about the Force measures to combat illegal soccer bookmaking, Mr Yam said that the Force had expected the demand for illegal soccer bookmaking would increase in May and June this year with the culmination of several pan-European competitions and the advent of the World Cup. He noted that estimates of the amounts of money being placed with soccer bookmakers varied greatly, adding that there was no doubting that much of the 'take' went to organized criminal gangs. It was for this reason the problem was viewed so seriously by Force management, he noted.
Planning of the Force's counter measures against soccer bookmaking, particularly during the World Cup, began in August last year with the establishment of a Steering Committee and the development of a Force strategy.
"Broadly speaking, while this strategy will involve wide dissemination of the 'Zero Tolerance' message through the media and the Force's public relations network, the major thrust will involve frontline duties communicating the message to all locations where soccer bookmaking is likely to occur, and particularly informing the owners and managers of licensed establishments of the consequences of allowing bookmakers to operate on their premises.
Mr Yam continued: "Over the past couple of months the Force's criminal intelligence machinery has been geared up to closely examine soccer bookmaking and the effort is beginning to pay dividends in that a lot of useful intelligence is now coming in.
"Coupled with this, enhanced cooperation with our neighbours in the Region has helped focus on several active transnational organized groups and these would be the focus of cooperative action involving several Forces," he added.
Mr Yam stressed that the Force is determined to especially target triad and other organised criminal gangs and that with any arrest for bookmaking, officers will examine the possibility of invoking provisions under the Organized And Serious Crimes Ordinance to confiscate proceedings and have sentences enhanced.
Over the next two months enforcement action against soccer bookmaking will be coordinated by a Working Group chaired by Chief Superintendent of Organized Crime and Triad Bureau with representatives from all Regions. The frequency and scale of operations will be adjusted after assessing the situation. In any event Mr Yam reiterates the Force stance, "Zero Tolerance".
Officer distributes handouts to combat illegal soccer bookmaking