The eight elite crime busters who have together won the prestigious title are Detective Senior Inspector Ng Yu-fan, Detective Sergeant Chow Chi-ming, Detective Constables Cheung Yuk-wah, Cheng Shing-yan, Ma Yiu-tang and Wong Wing-wah, and Detective Woman Police Constables Leung Ka-wai and Chan Sin-man, all from DVIT 4 of Kwai Chung Division. They were each presented with a certificate by Regional Commander Tang How-kong at a presentation ceremony.

As the award competition has been hotly contested by five DVITs from NTS Region, each nominated by its own District, KWC DVIT 4 could be regarded as the best of the best DVITs in the Region. Therefore, the other four DVITs were also presented with a certificate by their own District Commanders at the presentation ceremony, in recognition of their work performances.

As indicated by the long list of selection criteria, the winning team excelled in many areas during the first six months of this year, the period covered by the competition. The list, which covered service quality, detective ability, professionalism, thoroughness of investigation and esprit-de-corps of the teams, ran into a total of 12 items, each of which carries different weight, including cases handled, cases detected, outstanding cases, court conviction rate, CAPO complaints, public compliments, DVC/DC/RC compliments, general discipline and standard of crime message, pending message, No-Offence-Disclosed reports and covering reports.

An adjudicating panel comprising DRC NTS Cheuk Chun-yin, SSP CRM NTS Chan Kwok-keung, the DDC from each of the five NTS Districts and SP CRM A&S selected the winning team. As Mr Cheuk and Mr Chan have put it, objective indicators were used in the adjudication, which emphasised on openness, fairness and impartiality.

Recognition for DVIT

NTS Region hopes that the award would serve as a recognition and encouragement for DVITs as well as their families, who have been giving tremendous support to DVIT officers.

"All Crime officers, particularly DVIT officers, have a heavy workload and are subjected to a lot of work pressure these days. Notwithstanding this, they are very dedicated to their jobs and are producing good results. Therefore the management in the Region sees the need to have a mechanism to pay them and their families recognition," said Mr Cheuk.

He is very pleased that DVITs have contributed significantly to a high detection rate in the face of rising public expectations. "The detection rate in NTS was between 43.4 and 45.2 per cent in the past 12 months, and 44.7 per cent in the first six months of this year."

He likened the roles of a DVIT to those of the doctors in a hospital emergency ward. "They (DVIT officers) have to make a correct diagnosis and provide life-saving emergency treatment. Being the first CID party to arrive at a crime scene, how DVIT officers perform at the scene is very important for reassuring the victims and for securing evidence, as well as for further investigation by other investigation units if necessary."

Mr Cheuk pointed out that the award scheme is just one of the several initiatives designed to support Crime officers in the Region and enhance their professional status. "It's hoped that the award would generate a healthy competition among DVITs and this would result in higher job satisfaction. Therefore we plan to have two competitions per year," he noted.

Apart from Crime officers, NTS Region is also mindful of the needs of those Uniform Branch inspectors who may be interested in criminal investigation work. Therefore in tandem with the award scheme, the Region has recently conducted three four-day induction courses on DVIT work for such officers by adopting a mentorship format with SP CRM OPS as tutor and RCU Chief Inspectors as mentors.

The course provides classroom lectures and briefing and practical training at scenes, with the aim of giving participants a better understanding of the work of a Crime inspector.

Comments by winning team

DSIP Ng Yu-fan, commander of the winning team, views the award scheme as "a shot in the arm" and a great encouragement for frontline CID officers.

"The fact that the management is so concerned about, and attaches so much importance to, the work of frontline staff, especially DVIT officers, is indeed a great encouragement. I believed the message has reached frontline staff that their commanders recognise their heavy workload and the difficulties they have come across at work.

"Although the award might bring us some pressure in maintaining our performance in the days to come, it's certainly a good motivation. The credit of winning the award goes to every member of my team, including those who have left for other postings. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their contributions to the team," said DSIP Ng.

WDPC Leung Ka-wai said the award competition would bring a "healthy competition" and fellow officers' recognition of DVIT's work.

Echoing WDPC Leung's view, DPC Cheung Yuk-wah said the award had also brought him a sense of satisfaction and achievement. "We were not aware of the competition beforehand, and we were just doing what we ought to do during the period covered by the competition," he added.

Very happy with the award, DPC Cheng Shing-yan sees it as a testimony to "the approach and attitude we adopt all along towards work, as well as our efficiency."

Finally DSIP Ng has this to say about his team's work: "Our workload is quite heavy. Not every case is of a serious nature but we have a lot of small miscellaneous cases to handle everyday. This, plus not knowing when you can sign off, could have an impact on one's enthusiasm and drive. As far as I'm concerned, I try my best to take pleasure from work and take a positive attitude towards work."

Members of the winning team vow to keep up their good work