Complaints against police officers climbs 33pc in first five months

The Complaints Against the Police Office reported on Tuesday that 882 reportable complaints were received in the past five months, marking a 33 percent increase from 661 complaints in the same period last year. 

Speaking at the Independent Police Complaints Council meeting, police officials indicated that the major complaint types were "neglect of duty" and "misconduct, improper manner, and offensive language," which accounted for 95 percent of the complaints.

Complaints regarding "neglect of duty" increased by 45 percent, totaling 543 complaints, while those related to "misconduct, improper manner, and offensive language" saw a 27 percent rise, reaching 294 cases compared to the previous year.

Additionally, a total of 29 complaints related to assault were reported this year, representing a 6 percent decrease from 31 last year.

Allegations of unnecessary use of authority also saw a significant 69 percent decrease, dropping from 13 last year to just four this year.

Meanwhile, the police introduced a newly launched three-month pilot scheme for the“Operational Deployment of Drones” in the Border District and West Kowloon Region.

Through the expanded use of drones, the police aimed to enhance patrol efficiency, including assistance in anti-crime patrols, combating illegal immigration, and tackling smuggling.

The police expressed a desire for better public understanding of drone usage, underlining that careful deployment will be employed to address privacy concerns.