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Macao Yearbook 2007
Part 1 Chapter 9
Effective Measures for Combating Crime; Public
Order Remains Stable
Faced with complex social changes, in 2006 Macao’s police forces took a series of measures to maintain public order in cooperation with Macao citizens. Police campaigns to prevent and combat petty crimes proved effective, with double-digit falls in robberies and pick-pocketing. Violent crimes continued to decline.
Cross-border Cooperation in Fighting Crime
Under the command of the Unitary Police Service, the Public Security Police and Macao
Judiciary Police collaborated more effectively, resulting in more effective and efficient handling
of major cases. Operation “Thunderbolt”, a series of large cross-border initiatives launched by
the Unitary Police Service to combat organised and cross-border crimes such as illegal gambling,
proved particularly effective. The operation uncovered numerous major crimes, and disbanded
criminal gangs that were involved in them.
As an example of the crimes solved: in late May, five people stole over HK$4 million from two casino workers who are Hong Kong residents. Together with the Commission Against Corruption, the Judiciary Police solved the case in close cooperation with the mainland public security authorities. The police arrested one serving and one dismissed officer of the Public Security Police, and one other serving Public Security police officer, who was alleged to be a loan shark, in connection with the case.
In June, during the last round of the World Cup playoffs, the Public Security Police and Judiciary Police launched a six-day crackdown on illegal bookmaking, searching more than 10 addresses on the Macao peninsula and Taipa. They cracked one major underground football-betting syndicate operated by Hong Kong triads, as well as several betting centres operated by illegal bookmakers. During the operations, the police arrested 26 people and seized betting slips worth over 300 million patacas. In August, a married couple, who were active in the local gaming scene, were found dead in a car parked near a Zhuhai golf club. Deeply concerned by the case, Macao police sought cooperation from their mainland counterparts. In September, police in Zhuhai announced that the couple had been unable to pay off huge debts, and the husband asked his brother to hire hit men to kill them. Six suspects, including the deceased’s brother, were arrested.
Street Crimes Ebb Significantly; Violent Crimes Continue to Drop
Overall public security remained stable in 2006. The total number of crimes was 10,854,
representing a slight increase of three percent compared to 2005. Violent crimes dropped by 5.1
percent, while cases of arson fell by 29.2 percent. Robbery and pick-pocketing fell 9.5 percent
and 30.5 percent, respectively, from the previous year.
There were uneven changes in numbers of the five major crime categories, as classified in the Review of 2006
Penal Code. Crimes against people rose by six percent, to 2,519 cases. Crimes against property dropped by 3.7 percent, to 5,506 cases. Crimes against society rose by 36.7 percent, to 1,278 cases. The total of crimes against public order was essentially unchanged at 702 cases, while the number of crimes not included in the aforementioned categories rose 4.8 percent, to 849 cases.
Of 17,013 illegal immigrants and overstayers who were repatriated during the year, 1,085 were mainlanders who entered Macao illegally – an increase of 569 over the previous year. The number of overstaying mainland Chinese rose by 5,089 to 11,430 people, 3,398 of whom carried the facilitated individual travel visa – 1,060 more than in the previous year. The number of overstayers from overseas rose by 330, to 1,100 people.
Macao saw an increase in homicides over the previous year. Most resulted from family issues, and the increase attracted widespread concern. In March, for instance, there were three consecutive family tragedies. All were related to extramarital affairs or marital violence, and the police promptly resolved the cases. Stronger Integration Enhances Police Service
The Unitary Police Service has played an important role in coordinating work between the Public
Security Police and Judiciary Police, greatly enhancing cooperation and intelligence gathering
between units. The application of computer databases and integrated criminal information
systems has significantly improved intelligence collection and analysis. In parallel with the
continuing law reforms, the police doubled its efforts to fight terrorism and money-laundering.
Macao police continued to maintain good cooperation and communications with its counterparts in the neighbouring region. The 9th Guangdong and Macao Police Authorities Working Meeting, the 4th Shanghai Public Security Bureau and Macao Police Working Meeting, the first Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Anti-Terrorist Symposium and the 11th Mainland Security Authorities and Macao Police Working Meeting were held in 2006. In October, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao collaborated in destroying a Guangzhou-based cross-border organised crime syndicate that targeted Hong Kong and Macao businessmen. In a bid to strengthen police communications, enhance security management, more effectively fight cross-border crimes and improve police services for both Zhuhai and Macao citizens, in early 2006 the Zhuhai and Macao governments established the Zhuhai and Macao Police Cooperation Mechanism. This will help maintain order at border crossings. Customs Service Initiatives to Improve Economic Development
In 2006, the Macao Customs Service (Macao Customs) commenced research into a project
to unify the Macao and mainland customs declaration documents. To further development of
tourism and logistics services, the Shenzhen and Macao governments studied ways to open
shipping routes between Macao and Shenzhen, and partnered with e-commerce and logistics
industries to develop an electronic warehouse billing system. The automated system for customs
checks on vehicles became operational early in the year.
Following the completion of the Zhuhai-Macao Crossborder Industrial Zone Checkpoint Complex, the Macao Customs actively tested and prepared for new customs facilities. Construction of the Coastal Surveillance Headquarters and Customs Warehouse in Ilha Verde Macao Yearbook 2007
began during 2006. The second customs patrol boat was also being built. The Macao Customs collaborated with nearby regional authorities in blocking entry of illegal immigrants and unregistered vessels. According to data, from preventing and combating smuggling, through uncovering customs fraud to countering infringements of intellectual and industrial property rights, the Macao Customs achieved remarkable results since its establishment.
In 2006, the Macao Customs seized 496 suspected pirated CDs and other suspected counterfeit goods. These seizures included 2,906 items of clothing; 451 handbags and 308 pairs of shoes, plus 660 miscellaneous leather items; 6,620 cigarettes; 15.5 litres of Chinese rice wine; 150 “Viagra” pills; 124 items of jewellery; and 587 phone accessories. The Macao Customs also implemented the External Trade Law, and seized large quantities of smuggled goods, including 9,021 items of clothing and textile products; 368 phones and receivers; 70,302 kg meat; 195,591 kg vegetables; 90,642 cigarettes; and 3,885.4 litres and 90.75 kg of alcoholic beverages. In combating drugs, the Macao Customs seized 0.62 g heroin, 302.33 g marijuana, 10.91 g ketamine, 5.8 g Metamphetamine (“Ice”), 1.3 g cocaine and 224.5 pills of various psychedelic substances. Police Authorities and the Public Cooperate to Maintain Stability
of Society
Through holding numerous seminars with schools, shop owners and neighbourhood
communities, the Unitary Police Service is actively listening to the various needs of Macao
citizens, gathering intelligence on crimes, and following up on cases concerning security issues.
Meanwhile, in a bid to raise awareness of crimes and public safety, the police authorities have
organised various promotional activities among local communities. Reducing youth problems
and the prevention of juvenile delinquency remain important tasks for the force.
Urban developments, road reconstruction and various major building projects have resulted in new problems for road safety in Macao. The traffic police are facing greater responsibilities. As well as studying road safety and traffic arrangements with relevant official departments, the police are consulting the public and planning traffic measures based on public needs. To ensure road safety, the force increased its manpower for patrols, and for directing and diverting traffic. It also strengthened its regular interception, alcohol testing and speed detection operations. The newly adopted electronic red light violation detection and “fixed point” speed detection systems not only curbed speeding, but also helped to avert many serious accidents. To deter illegal parking that causes severe traffic congestion and to maintain smooth traffic flows, the police have deployed more human resources to strengthen enforcement of parking regulations.
Raising Expertise and Strengthening Management
In addition to boosting knowledge and expertise through continuous training, the police force
requires officers to keep fit. It also organises courses for frontline police officers on public
relations, etiquette and special skills for dealing with tourist problems or requests. There are
also courses on computer usage, writing official reports, languages and law. These help to both
Review of 2006
broaden police officers’ knowledge, and enhance all-round life skills for dealing with the needs of a constantly changing society. In addition, the police force designated representatives to attend courses on investigating assets and seminars for exchanging information on combating terrorism. The police force continues to recognise the importance of good relations with the media. In addition to introducing a new module – Communication Skills when Dealing with the Mass Media – to the ongoing training programme for frontline officers, the force is making the subject available to newly promoted officers in the Public Security Police, Judiciary Police and Fire Service, to help them understand the media.
Regarding team building and management: the police force launched a series of performance pledges and people-friendly services; improved various job guidelines and disciplinary systems to strengthen officers’ compliance and enhance internal discipline; reinforced personnel management, supervision and consultation to improve service quality; promoted team spirit through more communications and meetings between supervisors and their subordinates and improved understanding of the needs of lower-rank officers; and raised administrative effectiveness through rational allocation of duties according to individual expertise and abilities.

Source: http://yearbook.gcs.gov.mo/files/yearbook/2007/myb2007ePA01CH09.pdf