Police have called on parents and teachers to play a role in juvenile crime prevention as the force reported that 1,580 people aged between 10 and 20 were apprehended in the first half of the year.

The figure represented a rise of 20 percent year-on-year — which was mainly due to a surge in those arrested for serious assault and wounding, as well as criminal damage.

Police Commissioner Joe Chow said that officers had made 283 arrests in relation to serious assault and wounding, a surge of nearly 50 percent compared to a year ago.

A majority of them acted on impulsiveness, rather than a planned attack.

The number of criminal damage arrests, including those engaged in debt collection activities, increased by nearly 60 percent to 140.

“They were exploited, they were paid, but they may not be aware that what they did was wrong,” Chow said.

“They just think it’s quick money, so they can earn some money. They just splashed the red paint, etcetera. They didn’t think that is wrong.”

Meanwhile, with the government working to amend the city’s sexual offence laws, such as by introducing offences targeting sexual grooming, the police chief said the move would be very effective in terms of law enforcement.

Chow noted the issue is not exclusive in Hong Kong, but a global one.

He went on to say that sex predators tend to approach juveniles through online gaming platforms and social media.

“They will try to show their concerns or care ... to earn the trust. So later on, they would ask [the juvenile] to come out or send some nude photos etcetera. Later on, maybe they would be even blackmailed for such photos.”

Local authorities would continue to work with overseas law enforcement agencies, Chow added, as predators are sometimes outside of the SAR.

For the fifth straight year, the force has published a guide for parents and teachers to offer them advice on how to protect young people from committing illegal acts, along with real cases for demonstration.

The booklet will be distributed to more than 1,000 schools across the city.

Chow emphasised that communication with young people is key, rather than closely monitoring their social media accounts.

Separately, following a recent case that saw a 19-year-old allegedly involved in mobile drug delivery that was reported by a taxi driver, the police chief said the force would push for tougher penalties against the mastermind if he or she had exploited any minors to traffic dangerous drugs.



Edited by Tony Sabine