Report to shed light on police panel
THE Police Complaints Committee, an independent body which monitors the work of Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO), will break with tradition by divulging more case details in its forthcoming report.
The document, which summarises the committee's yearly performance and complaint statistics, will for the first time since its inception in 1986 include case details and explain how some cases were handled.
Committee member Mr Justein Wong Chun said the move was designed to give the panel more exposure.
''We have been quietly doing our job for so long, it is about time that we should come out and tell the public what exactly our work involves . . . it is hoped that this will in some ways help us project a more open policy to the public,'' said Mr Wong.
He is confident the move will also boost the public image of CAPO, which has been criticised for its investigations of its own ranks.
The new-style report will feature details of various cases to show how they are classified and ways in which they are investigated.
''The new report will explain in a simple manner how cases were taken care of and why certain results were reached,'' Mr Wong said.
The examples will include a handful of exceptional cases which were substantiated, unsubstantiated, not proven, false, withdrawn, or not pursuable.
Figures released earlier showed that more than 60 per cent of cases investigated by CAPO last year were withdrawn or not pursuable.
Their release came amid growing calls for an independent body to replace the present system.
Mr Wong said the forthcoming Police Complaints Committee report would also feature a number of recommendations, which would hopefully expand the panel's powers in the future.
