"Modern police services are learning organisations and as training specialists we modernise the service through developing the competencies within our organisation," said Commissioner Lee Ming-kwai in his opening address at the 15th Interpol Symposium for Heads of Police Training.

The three-day Symposium opened on March 15 at the Auditorium, Police Headquarters and was co-hosted by Interpol General-Secretariat and the Force. It was the first time the event was held outside Lyon, France.

International Dimension

With the vision of "Building an International Learning Community", the training symposium had an international dimension of coordinating efforts across jurisdictions to develop expert knowledge worldwide and to build an international capability in police training against internationalised crime.

As the Commissioner pointed out, "Success against cross-border crime depends to a very large extent on the seamless co-operation among countries and highly professional and competent officers co-operating across borders."

Interpol Secretary-General, Mr Ronald Noble, who officiated at the opening ceremony with Mr Lee, echoed the Commissioner's words.

"...unless we establish core competencies and good practices that can be shared with fellow police officials in a systematic way around the world, we will not be able to protect and secure our citizens from global threats the way that we should", Mr Noble observed.

Two-fold Mission

The Symposium had a two-fold mission: sharing knowledge and expertise and strengthening international training co-operation.

The Symposium was a forum exchanging the latest training information, knowledge about new forensic tools, and new technologies with police training leaders from around the world.

A total of 150 delegates from 47 countries as well as Force members learned about qualifications-based training, crime prevention and reduction, global law enforcement challenges, regional security issues, counter-terrorist measures, police leadership and management and training update of renowned police training establishments.

Training Collaboration

The Symposium also emphasised collaboration of training and the sharing of training resources. For Hong Kong, the Commissioner pledged to offer crime courses of specific regional interest as well as development courses at various levels to interested overseas law enforcement agencies.

Renowned police scholars and leading police training leaders from the Public Security Bureau, Centrex, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, FBI, and Cepol etc. gathered in Hong Kong for the three-day event. The Symposium was also graced by the participation of commissioners, directors of training, and university presidents from around the world.

The Symposium was a good chance for the Force to network and establish ties with overseas police training establishments. It was the first international training conference the Hong Kong Police College organised since its establishment, representing a major first step towards enhancing its international standing in police training.

The event also allowed the Force to showcase to the visiting delegates the Tactical Training Complex and its learning initiatives as shown in the 3rd Learning and Development Exhibition.

With its objective of improving police training worldwide and achieving greater international training collaboration, the Symposium has succeeded in exchanging knowledge, expertise and experience and in raising awareness of greater commitment to global co-operation in training.

Tangible Benefits

Assistant Commissioner (Training) David Thomas, who was also Chairman of the Symposium, and Head of the Organising Committee, said in closing, "We have obtained tangible benefits in terms of expert knowledge sharing from the Symposium ... What we have also achieved are long-term mutual benefits through networking and pledges of co-operation." Certainly pledges have been received from delegates to do more to share information across boundaries, which is a major step forward in "Building an International Learning Community".

Mr Thomas' sentiment was reiterated by Mr Adamu Mohammed, Director of NCB Services and I24/7 Development of Interpol, who said in his closing remarks, "Police institutions must build an integrated and coordinated capacity that will ensure the police are sufficiently trained, equipped and prepared to deploy a credible onslaught on crime and criminals in the society."

The final remarks however go to Mr Noble who stated, "We are honoured and thrilled to be here in Hong Kong". Referring to the new PHQ Arsenal House, he remarked, "What a magnificent structure to have the first official conference in joint partnership between Interpol and Hong Kong Police Force..... and for the best organised conference ever, right here in Hong Kong."

The Symposium successfully concluded on March 17.

(More Photos of the Symposium on Photo Features)