MH can be classified into four grades: mild, moderate, severe and profound. The more severe the mental handicap, the more likely it is that the individual will suffer from multiple handicaps and make for easier identification become. However, mild grade MH people are always difficult to identify and they constitute 85% of all MH cases. They can look just like anyone else. Their abilities vary widely: some can live independently but all of them will have difficulties understanding complicated, abstract, and rare concepts or phrases. They will find legal words, technical jargons, complex instructions, and hypothetical questions impossible to follow. However, they tend to respond as if they understand these concepts, when in fact, they have no idea what they mean. Therefore, they cannot perform satisfactorily in jobs that require a lot of thinking and reasoning. When questioned by police, they may not understand the questioning and the implications of their answers.

If you encounter a key witness or suspect that appears to have a very simple mind, a rather shallow language, clumsy in speech and demeanour, he could well be an MH person. You can politely ask him (directly) or his family whether he has received special education or shelter workshop training before. Having ascertained that he is an MH person, you should proceed with the prescribed statement taking procedures.

For further information about forensic and criminal psychological competency, you can contact the Police Clinical Psychologist of Child Protection Policy Unit at 2804-1437.

Stress Management Workshops
The PSG is organising a series of stress management workshops to be conducted in Chinese. The next one is at the Police Sports & Recreation Club Art Room on January 18 from 8.45 am to 12.30 pm, but participants are required to arrive 15 minutes before the programme starts. Thirty places for each session will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. To make a reservation contact PSG on 2866-6207.

Seek advice and help from the Psychological Services Group: PHQ, Hong Kong Island and Marine : 2866-6206 ( 5/F, 111 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay ); Kowloon and the New Territories : 2735-3739 ( 22/F, Ocean Building, 80 Shanghai Street, Kowloon ). PEN: psg@police.gov.hk