The reputation of the Hong Kong police force is founded in keeping our streets and neighbourhoods safe. On that count it does not need defending. But when simmering civil political conflict spills into the streets, police tend to be caught in the middle. Rightly or wrongly they can feel victimised for following orders.

The high moral ground is under challenge. Police morale is at stake. The unprecedented civil disobedience of the Occupy Central protest in 2014 is a case in point. The jailing of officers earlier this year over an assault on an activist, now subject to appeals, was a flashpoint for sagging morale. It sparked a rally by about 33,000 serving and retired officers. It also brought to a head concern over changing perceptions of the police, especially among the young.

There were calls for a public campaign that showcased the role of the police in fighting crime and keeping our streets safe. The battle with triads for control of our streets is an example. It can involve dangerous undercover work.

Members of the public usually do not get to hear too much about it for security reasons. But police chiefs have made an exception of a “sting” worthy of a crime novel or film script. Indeed, the story of how a police mole infiltrated a triad gang for 11 months, until the force pounced with nearly 300 arrests, could form the basis of either. A public relations offensive could not have done a better job of shoring up police morale and underlining the force’s real value to society.