FCSV is vested with the following responsibilities in respect of child as well as elder abuse, as well as family, domestic and sexual violence and juvenile crime.
(a) Policy
FCSV is responsible for formulating and implementing Force policies and procedures regarding child and elder abuse, and family, domestic and sexual violence, to ensure effective, co-ordinated and professional police action.
(b) Liaison
FCSV works closely with other government departments and NGOs on multi-disciplinary procedures, inter-agency co-operation, training and co-ordination within its policy areas.
(c) Monitoring Trends
ln order to identify and respond to emerging trends, FCSV monitors reports of child and elder abuse, as well as family, domestic and sexual violence and juvenile crime and looks into cases of special interest.
(d) Legislation
FCSV represents the Force in the legislative process whenever new law is proposed with regard to FCSV’s policy areas.
(e) Overseas Liaison
FCSV monitors the international situation regarding child and elder abuse, and family, domestic and sexual violence and juvenile crime with specific reference to prevailing trends, enforcement initiatives and new legislation to learn from overseas experience and adopt improvements to the local system.
FCSV is responsible for co-ordinating all requests from the Central Authority of Hong Kong, i.e. the Secretary for Justice, under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction for assistance in handling abduction cases in which a child has been wrongfully retained or removed from custodial care or his/her habitual place of residence.
(f) Training
FCSV and SWD jointly organize the “Training on Video-recorded interview with Child and Mentally Incapacitated Witnesses” (“VCM”). Police officers, officers from SWD, representatives from other government departments and NGOs are invited to participate in the training, with the aim of enhancing participants’ knowledge and skills in handling cases of abuse against child and mentally incapacitated witnesses. FCSV also provides training to frontline officers on various subjects with regard to elder abuse, family, domestic and sexual violence.”
(g) Witness Support Programme
The Criminal Procedure Ordinance, Cap. 221, allows Vulnerable Witnesses to be accompanied by a Support Person when testifying in court. The Support Person provides emotional support and advice to facilitate the testifying of the Vulnerable Witnesses. The Witness Support Programme, run by SWD, provides Support Persons upon request. FCSV coordinates and processes all Police requests for Support Persons.