NCJ Number
65701
Date Published
1977
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE HONG KONG POLICE CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A THREEFOLD APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM AND THE LIMITATIONS OF POLICE RESPONSIBILITY.
Abstract
SUBMITTED TO THE 46TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION, HELD IN STOCKHOLM IN 1977, THIS REPORT BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE (UNITED KINGDOM) CONCENTRATES ON THE TRADITIONAL AND SPECIFIC APPROACHES TO CRIME PREVENTION, WHILE REGRETTING ITS INABILITY TO USE THE THIRD, SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH, BECAUSE IT WOULD REQUIRE RESEARCH EXPERTS (SOCIOLOGISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS) WHICH THE HONG KONG POLICE DOES NOT HAVE ON ITS STAFF. THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH CONSIDERS ALL CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS AS FUNCTIONS OF A COUNTRY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE DELIVERY SYSTEM (E.G., THE POLICE, THE COURTS, AND THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM). THE TWO MAIN ASPECTS OF THIS APPROACH ARE CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES AND RECIDIVISM PREVENTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE LATTER ARE AFTERCARE SERVICES, PROVIDING SUPERVISION OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF EX-OFFENDERS AFTER THEIR RELEASE FROM PRISON. THE SPECIFIC CRIME PREVENTION APPROACH IS THE ERECTION OF PHYSICAL OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF POTENTIAL CRIMINALS, THUS REMOVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT CRIME. SUCH DETERRENTS INCLUDE ALARM SYSTEMS AND VARIOUS SECURITY MEASURES FOR HIGH-RISK PREMISES AND BUILDINGS. THE INCORPORATION OF CRIME PREVENTION FEATURES IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND POTENTIAL VICTIMS' EFFORTS AT FORESTALLING CRIME-PRECIPITATING SITUATIONS ALSO BELONG TO THE SPECIFIC CATEGORY. WITH REGARD TO THE TRADITIONAL, POLICE CENTERED, CRIME PREVENTION APPROACH, THIS REPORT STRESSES THE PREVENTIVE IMPACT OF POLICE PRESENCE, PERMANENT POLICE POSTS, REGULAR PATROL ACTIVITIES, AND SOME PRACTICES DESIGNED FOR LOCAL HONG KONG CONDITIONS, SUCH AS THE BOAT PATROLS REQUIRED AT THE PORT CONFIGURATION. AMONG THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS REPORT IS THE CREATION OF A LOCAL CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU, TOGETHER WITH A DISTRICT FIELD FORCE, FOR WHICH SUGGESTIONS ON STRUCTURE, COMMAND, AND FUNCTIONS ARE DETAILED.