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In response to press enquiries about a court case involving a vice establishment which concluded today (April 23), a Police spokesman said that the officers have fully complied with the requirements of Police orders and procedures.

According to Police orders, undercover officers cannot solicit sexual services during anti-vice operations. However, in order to conceal his identity and gather sufficient evidence against the keeper of the premises, a Police officer may be required to have limited bodily contact under certain circumstances.

The need to continue to carry out further undercover operation is reviewed after every such operation and once sufficient evidence has been gathered, this kind of undercover operation will cease. The circumstances of each case are different and, therefore, the assessment of the strength of the evidence will be decided on a case by case basis.

The use of undercover agents is a well-established and important tool in the detection of serious crimes and undercover agents are always required to comply with strict operational procedures to ensure that his evidence is presented with a high level of professionalism. Therefore, strict operational guidelines are in place to ensure the evidence collected by an undercover agent is of the highest standard.

Police will continue to make use of this important tool in the collection of evidence in suitable cases while, at the same time, constant reviews will be conducted to ensure that our operational guidelines and procedures are both sound and effective.

Police Report No.4

Issued by PPRB

End/2200hours, Tuesday, April 23, 2002 (RCH/TK)