For Discussion
on 28 October 1996
LegCo Panel on Security and
LegCo Panel on Public Service
Staff Wastage and Localisation ofin the Police Force
Introduction
This paper updates Members on the manpower and localisation situation of the Police Force at or above the rank of Inspectorate officers.
Background
2. We last briefed Members on 15 July 1996 on the manpower situation of the Police ForceInspectorate Police officers conducted in May 1995. Members expressed concern at the meeting on the wastage situation of the Force and asked for further information on the years of experience in the present rank of the officers who were assessed to be capable of filling vacancies at their next higher rank.
Latest Manpower Situation
3. Our latest manpower forecast indicates that about 6.1% (or 173) of serving officers at the rank of Inspectorate and above could leave the Force by June 1997. This includes 23 officers who are eligible but have yet to decide whether to take early retirement before July 1997 under Her Majestys Overseas Civil Service (HMOCS) Compensation Scheme. They are required to make a decision by the end of 1996. Details of the latest manpower forecast are at Annex A.manpower forecast of officers at the rank of Inspector and above and has found overall manpower situation to be largely in line with that reflected in the last survey.
Experience of qualified officers
4. At Annex B is a table setting out the average years of experience in the present rank of those officers who are expected to stay beyond July 1997 and who have been assessed to be qualified to fill vacancies at their next rank. It should be noted that promotion to higher ranks is based on merits and not a reward for long service. When assessing the suitability for promotion, particularly to senior ranks, much emphasis is placed on the potential of the officers concerned, which are not related to the years in service. Notwithstanding this, all officers at Senior Superintendent and Chief Superintendent ranks who are found to be qualified to fill vacancies at the next higher rank have an average of 25 to 28 years of experience in the Force.indicated they would continue to serve the Force beyond July 1997. About 11% were undecided and 6% indicated they would leave the Force within the two year period between July 1995 to June 1997.
Localisation
5. The Forces localisation policy which aims to achieve, by the year 2000, a higher proportion of local officers than expatriate officers at the rank of Superintendent and above has already been met. As at 1 October 1996, there were a total of 431 serving officers at the Gazetted Officer rank (i.e. Superintendent and above). Among these officers, 230 (53%) were locals and 201 (47%) were expatriates. At the rank of Inspector, there were a total of 2,348 officers, with 1,957 (83%) locals and 391 (17%) expatriates. Given the much larger proportion of local officers at the Inspectorate rank and retirement of expatriate officers, the proportion of local officers at the Gazetted Officer rank will continue to increase. A breakdown of the proportion of local and expatriate officers at each rank of the Inspectorate and above is at Annex C.
Security Branch
October 1996
Annex A
Manpower Forecast of Senior Police Officers (between October 1996 to June 1997)
|
SACP
|
ACP
|
CSP
|
SSP
|
SP
|
CIP
|
SIP/
IP
|
Total
|
|
Total Strength
(as at 1.10.96)
|
4
|
14
|
48
|
84
|
278
|
561
|
1,787
|
2,776
|
|
Normal retirement
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
17
|
|
Early retirement (non-HMOCS)*
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
7
|
3
|
10
|
21
|
|
Completion of agreement
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Resignation
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
7
|
|
Early retirement under HMOCS
|
0
|
5
|
7
|
19
|
33
|
37
|
4
|
105
|
|
Undecided under HMOCS
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
13
|
7
|
1
|
23
|
|
Total assumed leavers**
|
0
|
6
|
11
|
22
|
57
|
52
|
25
|
173 |
* Those who have tendered 12-month notice for early retirement except one officer at SIP/IP rank who is taking early retirement on medical grounds.
** Worst case scenario including those eligible for early retirement but undecided under HMOCS.
Key: SACP and ACP = Senior Assistant Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of Police,
CSP, SSP and SP = Chief Superintendent, Senior Superintendent, and Superintendent of Police,
CIP, SIP and IP = Chief Inspector, Senior Inspector and Inspector of Police
Annex B
Projected Vacancies before July 1997 and the Pool of Available Candidates
|
SACP
|
ACP
|
CSP
|
SSP
|
SP
|
CIP
|
SIP/
IP
|
Total
|
|
Projected total leavers
(Note 1)
|
0
|
6
|
11
|
22
|
57
|
52
|
25
|
173
|
|
Projected consequential vacancies (Note 1)
|
0
|
6
|
17
|
39
|
96
|
148
|
173
|
479
|
|
Projected number of officers qualified to fill vacancies at the next higher rank (Note 2)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
38
|
63
|
172
|
452
|
1106
|
N/A
|
|
Average years of experience of the qualified officers at their present rank
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
3
|
3
|
7
|
6
|
11
|
N/A
|
|
Average years of experience of the qualified officers
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
28
|
25
|
22
|
19
|
15
|
N/A |
Note 1: Projected leavers/vacancies are based on a worst case scenario whereby all eligible officers who are undecided under HMOCS opt to take early retirement before July 1997.
Note 2: Figures are based on officers who are expected to stay beyond July 1997 and who are qualified for promotion to the next higher rank (for example, 38 CSPs are qualified to fill ACP vacancies). Vacancies at IP rank are filled both from open recruitment and from internal promotion.
Annex C
Number of Senior Local and Expatriate Police Officers
|
CP/
DCP
|
SACP
|
ACP
|
CSP
|
SSP
|
SP
|
Sub-Total
|
CIP
|
SIP/
IP
|
Total
|
|
Total Strength
(as at 1.10.96)
|
3
|
4
|
14
|
48
|
84
|
278
|
431
|
561
|
1,787
|
2,779
|
|
Local officers
|
3
|
3
|
5
|
23
|
34
|
162
|
230
(53%)
|
413
|
1,544
|
2,187
(79%)
|
|
Expatriate officers
|
0
|
1
|
9
|
25
|
50
|
116
|
201
(47%)
|
148
|
243
|
592
(21%) |
Last Updated on 21 August 1998
