Review of police use of powers under the Crimes (Criminal Organisations Control) Act 2012 - November 2016

In November 2016, the Ombudsman completed a review of powers given to police under the Crimes (Criminal Organisations Control) Act 2012. Under the Act, the Supreme Court can declare that an organisation is a ‘criminal organisation’ and make control orders which can prevent members from associating with each other, recruiting others to the organisation, and to stop them from participating in certain activities, including working in high risk industries.\r\n\r\nOur report found that no organisation has been declared to be a criminal organisation under the scheme. We conclude that police found the scheme too cumbersome and resource-intensive to use and preferred using the alternative powers available to them to disrupt criminal organisations. Our report therefore recommends that the Act should be repealed.\r\n

2016年11月，监察专员完成了对《2012年犯罪（刑事组织管控）法案》赋予警方的各项权力的审查工作。依据该法案，最高法院可宣布某一组织为“刑事组织”，并作出管控令，禁止该组织成员相互联络、招募他人加入该组织，同时阻止成员参与特定活动，包括在高风险行业就职。

本报告经审查发现，尚无任何组织依据该机制被宣告为刑事组织。我们经研判得出结论：警方认为该制度操作繁琐且资源消耗巨大，更倾向于使用其他可供支配的权力来打击刑事组织。有鉴于此，本报告建议废止该法案。