**********************************************************
Police always accord top priority to the prevention of crime, especially shop thefts committed by youngsters as well as burglaries of residential premises, and would continue to work closely with different sectors of the community to tackle the problems.
Speaking at the launching ceremony of the Fight Crime Publicity Campaign 2002/03 today (August 10), the Police Director of Operations, Mr Tang King-shing, said that the campaign aimed at enhancing public awareness on crime prevention and shop theft and domestic burglaries were made the themes.
He reiterated that Police had always attached importance to the prevention of youth crimes especially shop theft which was a serious offence and could result in a criminal record and ruin the offender's life.
According to Police figures, the first half of this year saw the arrest of some 1 500 juveniles aged between seven and 20 for shop theft, an increase of about 260 persons compared to the corresponding period last year. Most of them committed the crime out of momentary greediness.
The current publicity drive, with "Shop Theft. Think of the Cost!" as the slogan, is a continuation of last year's campaign on anti-juvenile crime which focused on the tripartite alliance of parents, schools and Police.
The Fight Crime Publicity Campaign 2002/03 will be rolled out in two phases with the first one on "anti-shop theft" being launched today
and the second phase on "anti-domestic burglaries" to be introduced in December.
In order to effectively put across the messages, Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) for television broadcasting were produced and would be reinforced by a comprehensive package with items ranging from radio APIs, posters, stickers as well as advertisements on buses and newspapers.
The publicity package on anti-shop theft was launched at today's ceremony to remind youngsters to think about the hefty price to pay for the crime.
Today's event, held at The Centre in Central, doubled as the Central and Western District Help People to Help Themselves Fight Crime Campaign 2002 with local fight crime ambassadors receiving their certificates of appointment.
Meanwhile, winners of the Fight Crime Graphics Design Competition organised by the Police Central and Western Districts were also awarded during the ceremony.
Other officiating guests included the Police Regional Commander of Hong Kong Island, Mr Yuen Ying-lam; Chairman of Central and Western District Fight Crime Committee, Mr Chan Hay; member of Central and Western District Council, Mr Ip Kwok-him; and Acting Central and Western District Officer, Miss Cheung Pui-shan.
The Fight Crime Publicity Campaign is organised by the Fight Crime Committee Publicity Sub-committee whose members comprise representatives from the Security Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Information Services Department, the Education Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Home Affairs Department and District Fight Crime Committees.
Police Report No.3
Issued by PPRB
End/ 1500hrs, Saturday, August 10, 2002 (KW/LC)
NNNN
