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SCMP Reporter

Campaign launched after doubling of arrests among school children for gang-related crimes in New Territories South

The number of youngsters arrested for triad related offences has doubled in New Territories South,  police statistics show.

But the assistant crime prevention officer for the district, Senior Inspector Florence Cheung Suk-lan,   said a campaign would be launched to prevent students from joining triad societies.

Ms Cheung  stressed that the vast majority of the juvenile triad-related crimes in the region were minor in nature, such as claiming to be triad members or demanding a couple of dollars from younger students.

Ms Cheung declined to comment on the chopping of seven-year-old Shum Ho-yin in the district nearly two weeks ago.

'We have not noticed a trend of juvenile gangs operating in an organised manner in New Territories south. Most of these gangs are just  youngsters being bullies.'

Police in the New Territories Region arrested 26 such youngsters between January and July this year, compared with just 11 last year. The number of juvenile victims in triad-related cases also increased - from 15 to 34 - during the same period.

Ms Cheung said young students were easy recruitment targets for triad societies seeking to expand. She 'hoped that by strengthening police presence in areas frequented by students, protection against recruitment would be increased.

It  is understood that the Wo Shing Wo triad society has been one of the most active in recruiting in the district and that they usually recruit students in Form Two or Form Three.

Although there had been isolated cases of young students in primary schools being recruited, the police said they did not see it becoming a trend.

A police source said gangs preferred recruiting youngsters to adults because it helped them avoid being caught by undercover officers.

The annual anti-juvenile crime and anti-triad drive in the region this year will see more than 100 officers from different police branches deployed to conduct checks on suspicious people, including students.

Officers would also  conduct talks at schools to tell students where they could seek help if they were approached by suspected triad members.

Designated officers will also remain in daily contact will schools to keep an eye on the  situation.

The vice-principal of one of the schools covered by the scheme said staff would co-operate with the police force's efforts by teaching students how to handle situations in which they are approached or threatened by suspected gangsters.

'Teachers will also pay special attention to younger students in lower classes as they are more vulnerable,' said vice-principal Chan Hing-cheong, from the Toi Shan Association College.

Besides preventing youngsters from being recruited into triad gangs, the police campaign will also seek to reduce other types of juvenile crime such as theft, drug abuse and violent offences such as wounding, robbery, blackmail and criminal intimidation.

According to police statistics, the number of juveniles arrested for most of these offences has dropped.



Police vow to tackle young triad recruits