Intelligence-Led Policing - Hong Kong style

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It was with obvious satisfaction and enthusiasm that, last month, the Criminal Intelligence Bureau Chief Superintendent, Mr Lau Chi-keung, opened the International Strategic Intelligence (ISI) Course, a bilateral training initiative organised and conducted jointly by the Force and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for Australian and Hong Kong Police officers.

Graduates of the ISI Course, which was developed from the AFP's National Strategic Intelligence Course, receive a 'one subject credit' towards the Graduate Certificate in Criminal Intelligence and eventually a "MA in Criminal Intelligence" offered by the Charles Sturt University of Australia. This is a real incentive to any officer committed to life-long learning in the intelligence field.

A one-day 'Briefing' followed the ISI Course for Regional Commanders on the role of strategic intelligence and its value in meeting organisational goals. Following which there were four half-day workshops for Force Criminal Intelligence System managers at Chief Inspector and Superintendent rank.

The 24 graduates, four from Australia and the rest from Hong Kong, all described the course as enlightening, practical and a truly worthwhile event. One graduate said: "The instructors were most helpful and were able to provide examples as to how many of the conceptual models taught could be applied to real-life situations. In addition we learnt a lot from our overseas colleagues."

In a subsequent interview with OffBeat, Mr Lau explained that the enhancement of the Force's Strategic Intelligence Capability was one of four key projects that will enable the CIB to meet intelligence-related objectives promulgated in the Commissioner's Three-year Strategic Action Plan.

The course is a milestone to the long-term development of strategic intelligence within the Force.

"Ideally, overseas experts in the field will be invited to present some modules in future courses," Mr Lau added.

Another one is enhancing the Force Criminal Intelligence Analysis capability. "We actually had a head start on this one," said Mr Lau, " because Hong Kong has been practicing Intelligence-led policing for many years and started training courses as early as l987. We already train other local and regional law enforcement agency staff. Our (genuine) great leap forward came in 2000 with the introduction of Criminal Intelligence Analysis Training in the SCIC II which, at the Basic Skills level, gave appropriate training to all crime stream officers. We are now developing training in advanced skills for officers posted to all Force intelligence units and courses will commence in 2003 once training packages have devised" said Mr Lau.

Two other important and integral components of the Force's intelligence system are also being addressed, according to Mr Lau. "We are introducing a three-tiered Agent Handling training structure, based on best international standards, at a Basic, Advanced and Controller level. We are also making improvements in the management of Under Cover Operations involving the psychological profiling of recruits, training, psychological and welfare support and management. We are confident that the human intelligence capability of the Force will be greatly enhanced.

"In addition to the above, the current Criminal Intelligence Computer System (CICS) will be replaced by an 'open platform' system that will use the very latest technology. We will be able to process multi-media material, use intelligence analysis tools and have a live-link with other Police systems by 2005," he concluded.

The Director of Crime and Security, Mr Chau Foo-cheong, hosted a reception for overseas law enforcement agencies on September 23, following a briefing to Regional Commanders by General Manager, Australian Federal Police, Mr Steve Jackson, on strategic intelligence.

CIB CSP Mr Lau Chi-keung: Intelligence-led Policing is essential


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