Support Wing launches Animal Watch Scheme
In recent years, cases of cruelty to animals have attracted wide media coverage. Whilst this situation has not deteriorated, Support Wing has introduced an Animal Watch Scheme to proactively address public concerns and seek wider public involvement in combatting cruelty to animals.
The scheme will enhance the multi-agency approach being taken by the Force, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and also involves private veterinarians through the Veterinary Association. The enhancement will be achieved through a four-pronged approach comprising education, intelligence gathering, publicity and investigation.
The following is the highlight of the scheme.
Education
Support Wing has, in collaboration with Police Public Relations Branch (PPRB), produced an episode for "Police Magazine" to promote public awareness of the problem of cruelty to animals and the criminal nature of such activities. Police College's Detectives Training Division will organise, while running different training courses, sharing sessions on expertise to handle cruelty to animal cases for officers and staff of AFCD and SPCA.
Intelligence Gathering
To strengthen intelligence networks, Support Wing will encourage the public, including private veterinarians and animal welfare concern groups, to report to and assist law enforcement agencies if they come across any suspicious activities of cruelty to animals. Frontline units will utilise the Force's intelligence gathering mechanism to monitor the situation and identify trends or black spots in respect of animal cruelty. Support Wing will closely liaise with AFCD and SPCA to monitor territory-wide changes in the trends.
Publicity
PPRB will utilise the existing communication channels with students and juveniles, such as Police School Liaison Officers and JPC programmes, to disseminate messages on prevention of cruelty to animals, and to highlight the criminal nature of cruelty to animals.
Frontline units will organise publicity campaigns and distribute leaflets together with AFCD and SPCA to appeal for public support. The units will also make use of District Fight Crime Committees and District Councils to raise public awareness of prevention of cruelty to animals and to appeal for community support.
Investigation
Police officers will handle reports of cruelty to animals in a professional manner, and will seek early assistance from AFCD and SPCA, especially whilst working at the scene of suspected cruelty to animals.
With the launch of the Animal Watch Scheme and to enhance frontline officers' professional ability to handle cruelty to animal cases, Support Wing invites Force members to attend a seminar on "Cruelty to Animals Investigation and Animal Watch Scheme" in Police College on October 24. Speakers from AFCD, SPCA and frontline investigating units will be sharing their experiences of handling cruelty to animal cases. The registration details will be publicised on NoticeBoard.
