To cope with the changed landscape of public events, the Departmental Establishment Committee endorsed the creation of 32 posts on July 1, with Crime Hong Kong Island (HKI) and Crime Kowloon West each sharing 16 posts. Two Regional Public Order Event Investigation Teams (RPOEIT), namely RPOEIT 1 HKI and RPOEIT 2 HKI, were established under Crime HKI on the same day.



Each RPOEIT HKI comprises one Chief Inspector, one Detective Inspector or Senior Inspector, two Detective Sergeants and four Detective Police Constables. The two new teams have come into full operation under the command of Superintendent Crime (Operations) HKI.



The primary duties of the teams include investigating offences and handling intelligence related to public events. The teams also work closely with Uniform Branch (UB) officers on the field as Evidence Gathering Team to prevent and deter offences related to public events.



The teams will also play the important role of providing regular training in public event policing to commanders and frontline officers, in particular in evidence gathering and good practices. Last month, experience-sharing sessions were arranged with the Resident Police Tactical Unit Company, Emergency Unit HKI and the four Districts in HKI Region. On July 31, RPOEITs HKI also took part in a sharing session with Police College on evidence gathering in public event policing. Through close partnership with UB officers on the field and training sessions provided for frontline duties, the teams will enhance the co-operation between UB and Crime officers in public event policing.



Another core duty of RPOEITs HKI is to maintain and continue to develop the database of legal advice and court judgment related to public events for HKI in line with the Knowledge Management initiative of the Force. A more user-friendly database will be launched.



In addition, RPOEITs HKI have maintained close liaison with Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau and other Major Formations for knowledge and on-field experience sharing. The teams also maintain an effective working relationship with the stakeholders in other land Regions and local Districts.



The RPOEITs are prepared to engage both UB and Crime officers, through training and sharing sessions, to chart the way forward for public event policing. They are poised to develop both tactically and strategically for preventing and detecting offences related to public events.