We all know that for the Force to function properly, our systems and procedures have to be checked to ensure they are working well. Every officer in the Force has a part to play in this daunting task but the number and scope of the checks that an officer has to conduct vary greatly with rank and post. Some officers may have so many checks that they have no idea how to conduct them all properly, whilst others may have to do so only occasionally and therefore may find themselves missing some. Then, when officers are promoted or transferred to a new post, they may be faced with a completely new list of checks. So where should they start?

As Chief Inspector Graham Mitchelmore of Service Quality Wing (SQW) said at a recent briefing for over 60 New Territories North (NTN) officers: "If you know what checks you have to make and when you have to make them, you can program the checks to suit your own schedule. You will then find you are using your time more effectively and not missing any checks."

To help officers do this, a pilot model of a Force Supervisory Checklist is being tested by 20 officers in each region. The checklist is an "Excel"-based computer program that can be interrogated by rank and post to give an officer a list of what checks they should be conducting, and when. The checklist gives a brief description of the check and a hyperlink to the original PGO, FPM, or other source if detailed information is needed.

The checklist has been jointly developed by a working group of NTN officers under retired Senior Superintendent Chiu Kam-fai researching the checks, and SQW. An intern from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Mandy Chu Man-yi, has produced the program.

As it stands, the pilot program contains sufficient information for most officers in land regions but further work will be required if it is to include all checks made by all officers in the Force. The briefing for NTN officers was intended to find out what difficulties they faced in making checks and what they wanted out of the system. "The aim is to give you what you need, not what we think you need," said Deputy Regional Commander NTN Peter Hunt while introducing the program.

The concept of the system was well received. Mr Hunt also presented a letter of appreciation from ACP SQ to Ms Chu for her contribution to the project. The tests of the system will continue until January 23.

Chief Inspector Graham Mitchelmore of Service Quality Wing gives a briefing on the Supervisory Checklist