TPDIST supports Strategic Directions
In support of the Force's Strategic Directions related to "Engaging the Community", "Enhancing Personal and Professional Qualities of Force Members", "Strengthening Criminal Intelligence Gathering Force-wide" and "Supporting Frontline Units", Tai Po District (TPDIST) is actively implementing two projects: "Project Eyes and Ears" and Project "GEN-Y" cum "Other Learning Experiences" Scheme. Since the launch of the projects, a positive response has been received from the community, and different organisations and sectors are actively participating in the projects.
Project Eyes and Ears
With a view to encouraging different
sectors of the local community to come forward with information for the
Police, and implementing a common-sense approach to community policing,
TPDIST has launched "Project Eyes and Ears", under which frontline
officers are tasked to strengthen the relationships between police and
different sectors of the community, such as the residents and merchants
in both town and rural area. The project has earned the strong support
of different stakeholders in the community. While many community policing plans have specific targets, "Project Eyes and Ears" covers the whole spectrum of society and each frontline police officer, in order to achieve the best results for community policing. The ultimate aim of the project is to change the culture of the frontline officers in the district in order to make communicating with the public part of their routine duties.
Councillor's comment
Legislative Councillor and Chairman of Tai Po District Council, Mr Cheung Hok-ming, commented that the trust established between the police and the public through the project would be instrumental for preventing and detecting crime. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Tai Po Rural Committee, Mr Man Chen-fai, echoed that TPDIST's initiative would favourably project the Force's image.
"Project Eyes and Ears" has also won the support of merchants, with 34 shops now playing the role as "Project Coordinators". A Chinese medicine shop proprietor and a bonesetter are glad with playing the role to strengthen relationships and prevent crime hand in hand with the police.
Patrick Chu, second i/c of Tai Po Division Task Force Sub-unit, said the project enables the new generation of frontline officers to learn the basic skill of beat patrol, and gather information from different sectors during patrol. Tse Chi-hung, second i/c of District Anti-Triad Squad, agreed that the project encourages officers to have more contacts with different sectors of the community.
Within several months after launch of the project, TPDIST has received a considerable amount of criminal intelligence from the public. With the information provided by a security guard, the police have apprehended a drug dealer and seized 129 grams of Ketamine.
Project "GEN-Y" cum "Other Learning
Experiences"
Project "GEN-Y" cum "Other Learning Experiences" have been running in TPDIST for a year, aiming at helping students to develop positive values and to raise the community's awareness of the scourge of drug abuse. TPDIST works in partnership with schools and non-government organisations to help the youths in Tai Po. Under the project, different activities are provided to them, for example, visit to a rehabilitation centre and adventure training.
The project is continuously reviewed and improved with more and more parties taking part. Last month, TPDIST Commander So Kam-tong met the Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Education and Executive Councillor, Prof Cheung Bing-leung, to introduce Project "GEN-Y". Prof Cheung said the project enables his students not only to serve the community, but also gain valuable teaching experience outside the classroom.
Under the New Senior School Curriculum, "Other Learning Experiences (OLE)" plays an important part in developing students as an all-rounder. Secondary schools are required to offer a wide range of OLE opportunities to Forms 4 to 6 students.
Spearheaded by TPDIST Deputy Commander Lau Yat-hung, the Police Community Relations Office has organised a series of OLE programmes for the students since early this year.
Mock Anti-dangerous Drug Operation and Mock Court Proceedings were one of the activities jointly held by TPDIST Junior Police Call (JPC) and a Rotary Club, with JPC members acting as "policemen or prosecutors to apprehend a drug trafficker". In the Mock Anti-dangerous Drug operation, JPC members planned and implemented a "realistic operation", successfully arresting the "trafficker" acted by a police volunteer.
"GEN-Y Anti-drug Island" Online Electronic
Platform
TPDIST has teamed up with the Department of Computing of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in developing a new e-platform known as "GEN-Y Net". This e-platform aims at assisting and guiding students in developing their positive values by using a two-way communication platform. At the same time, stakeholders in the district may link up with "GEN-Y" project through this e-platform. This concept is supported by the Narcotics Division, which has set aside $627,400 from the Beat Drug Fund for the project.
