Officers have value-added study visit to UK
Chief Inspector (CIP) (Operations) Li Kam-piu of Kwai Chung Division led a delegation comprising four Senior Inspectors, two Sergeants and six Constables to visit the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in the U.K. from August 7 to 16 to share experience and knowledge of a wide range of policing matters with their hosts.
During the study visit, the delegation members learned of the riots that broke out in London. "Outbreak of the riots affected our itinerary, but this coincidence added a bit of memory to our police career," commented CIP Li. When the riots spread to Manchester, resulting in looting and other forms of lawlessness, the GMP activated their emergency command mechanism to tackle the situation. The GMP invited the delegation to observe how they reacted and planned to bring the situation under control.
During their visit to the Metropolitan Division, the delegation was also invited to attend a briefing on "Operation Valant", which aimed at restoring law and order in Manchester.
"There were shop windows smashed, buildings damaged by arson, and police patrol stepped up, but we all were safe," CIP Li continued. "Besides 'Operation Valant', a 'Consequences Management Centre' operated round-the-clock, involving various units such as the 'Internet Team' for monitoring the social media network, the 'CCTV Team' paying attention to any abnormality on the street, and the 'Think Tank' of the centre, comprising an Assistant Chief Constable, a Superintendent as a strategic leader and another Superintendent as a tactics leader in charge of the whole centre."
"What the GMP shared with us was wide-ranging, enabling us to compare the GMP with our Force rather comprehensively," CIP Li added. During the one-week visit, the delegation members attended classroom presentations on the conceptual topics like "British Policing", "Neighbourhood Policing Model of the GMP" and crime-related policies and practices. They also gained some practical knowledge while visiting the Public Order training wing at Clayton Brook and watching demonstrations of the advanced technology adopted by the GMP. Meanwhile, the delegation shared their experience and knowledge with GMP officers.
"With the hospitality of the GMP, we gained a value-added inter-cultural experience at both managerial and working levels in Manchester. The delegation members, all from different units, focused their attention on three areas, namely 'policing of major sporting events in Manchester', 'enhancing intelligence gathering' and 'supporting frontline officers'."
It is the first time, since the 1997 Handover, the Force has co-organised this type of overseas development training with the Greater Manchester Police Force. The delegation members will submit a report for future study visits. Once published, the report can be accessed through the research respiratory of the Police College Library.
CIP
Li
is being briefed by the Assistant Chief Constable, Mr Gary Shewan,
on the manning of the "Consequences Management Centre"