NCJ Number
174596
Date Published
1995
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Because the Royal Hong Kong Police Force is experiencing an upsurge in the number of police officers being suspended, a project was initiated to determine whether existing suspension policies are still appropriate in prevailing circumstances and to compare similar policies adopted by the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom.
Abstract
Information derived from interviews with senior police officials found police officers under suspension in both countries fall into three broad categories: those involved in corruption offenses, those under criminal investigation by the police department itself or by other investigative bodies, and those subject to internal proceedings for serious discipline contraventions. In Hong Kong, reinstatement of suspended police officers is the responsibility of the Assistant Commissioner of Personnel Services. Police officers in the United Kingdom can be reinstated by senior police officials originally responsible for the suspension. When police officers in either country are suspended, they are formally interviewed and advised of their status. In Hong Kong, a suspended police officer is liable to having up to 50 percent of his or her salary withheld if disciplinary or criminal proceedings are being or are about to be instituted. In the United Kingdom, a suspended police officer will continue to receive 100 percent of his or her salary pending the outcome of the inquiry or the trial. A statistical comparison of suspended police officers in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom is presented that is based on figures for the 1990-1994 period. Existing management review procedures for police officers under suspension in both countries are described, and factors taken into consideration when suspending police officers are noted. Recommendations to reduce the number of police officer suspensions are provided. 2 tables