Since the launch of the Force Research Award Scheme (FRAS) in April, the FRAS Working Group has received a lot of enquiries from Formations and individual officers showing interest in the scheme. Many of them wish to have more concrete advice about how to start a research project in the best way. Apart from updating you on the progress of FRAS, we shall share with you the knowledge of the Force members who have extensive experience in policing research in the FRAS Corner. The first part of this series of the FRAS Corner will talk about choosing the right area for research.

Suggested Research Area

Starting off with a right research area will be essential for policing research aimed at achieving continuous improvement in Force policy and performance. In this regard, policing areas identified in the Strategic Action Plan 2008-2010 and the Commissioner's Operational Priorities 2008 may be worthy of your prime consideration in entering FRAS:

• Community engagement
• Community policing
• Counter-terrorism
• Criminal intelligence gathering
• Domestic violence
• Information and communications technology
• Integrity management
• Intelligence-led policing
• Mainland integration
• Major events and incidents
• Offences related to visitors and illegal immigrants
• Personal and professional qualities of Force members
• Policing of the Olympic Equestrian Event
• Policy on juveniles
• Quick cash crime
• Recruitment and retention
• Road safety
• Social responsibility
• Strategic management
• Supervisory accountability
• Syndicated criminal activities
• Technology crime
• Trafficking and abuse of dangerous drugs
• Training
• Triad-related criminal activity
• Violent crime

Whilst these are suggested topics, you are free to choose any other research subjects on the improvement of the Force's policy and performance.

3rd Symposium on Police Studies

FRAS participants may also enter the 3rd Symposium on Police Studies of the Strait cum Hong Kong and Macao. Authors of selected papers may be invited to present their papers, as the Force's delegates, in the Symposium, which will be held in Macao in November this year.

The Symposium, entitled "The Effectiveness of Criminal Justices and Policing in the New Era", will consider a broad spectrum of law enforcement and management issues with six major themes:

• Positioning the role of regional criminal justice collaboration
• Studies on newly emerged crimes
• Policing training and effectiveness assessment across the Strait cum Hong Kong and Macao
• Comparison of police public relations strategies across the Strait cum Hong Kong and Macao
• Comparison of public service positioning across the Strait cum Hong Kong and Macao
• Research findings of latest policing theories

To meet the submission deadline set for the Symposium papers, interested parties are required to submit their papers in Chinese, or in English with Chinese translation, not exceeding 5,000 words to the FRAS Working Group by August 8 this year. Individual officers who have prepared their papers on the above themes in English but need Chinese translation, please contact SP C&A PDLC, Police College, at 2860-4148.

Papers selected for presentation in the Symposium have no bearing on the marking of papers for award consideration under FRAS which is operated by a separate judging panel and assessment scheme.

Note that the deadline for FRAS submissions not intended for the Symposium remains February 28, 2009. For more information, please contact fras@police.gov.hk or visit the FRAS website.

URL: http://point.hpf.gov.hk:8088/bbs/training/college/fras/index.htm

Access: POINT > Formation Sites > Police College > FRAS

If you are interested in last Symposium's research papers, please click on the Research Repository of the KM Portal or the FRAS website for reference