Police identification improved

October 28, 2019

Police Public Relations Branch Chief Superintendent Tse Chun-chung:

We understand the public's concern about identification of frontline officers. We have rolled out a new policy on operational call signs. I believe you all have seen our frontline officers wearing white tags on their vests over the weekend. 

These white tags contain operational call signs that can be used to identify individual officers. The call signs are unique and state the officer’s formation and posting. It has been our common practice that we use this call sign to identify officers among ourselves, within a Police Tactical Unit platoon for example. If anyone feels aggrieved by a particular police officer, they may make a report to the Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO) with reference to this unique operational call sign. Our new policy is to strike a fair balance between protection of our officers against doxxing and proper identification of officers.

Police have implemented a new policy that requires officers to show their operational call signs for easier identification.

Police Public Relations Branch Chief Superintendent Tse Chun-chung said the move aims to address public concern over identifying frontline officers.

The call signs are printed on white tags attached to uniforms. They should help people identify officers’ formation and posting.

He said if the public feel aggrieved by a particular police officer, they can file a report with the Complaints Against Police Office using the officer’s unique call sign.

“Our new policy is to strike a fair balance between protection of our officers against doxxing and proper identification of officers,” he added.