Chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Fight Crime Committee provides advice and recommendations on measures to prevent and reduce crime, and coordinates crime-fighting efforts and monitors their results.

During the year, the committee continued to monitor the crime situation, including the trend of various types of commercial crimes. Targeting the prevailing crime situation, the committee launched a publicity campaign that focused on anti-theft and anti-deception messages.

The committee also discussed the existing support services provided for victims of domestic violence and families at risk, and explored ways to reduce domestic violence.

The committee welcomed the introduction of a Risk and Needs Assessment and Management Protocol for Offenders by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) to facilitate the identification of prisoners prone to custodial and re-offending risks and the delivery of rehabilitative programmes matching their needs. The committee also noted that through its strategic publicity programme, CSD had been successful in soliciting community support for the reintegration of rehabilitated offenders into the society.

Where young offenders were concerned, the committee kept under review the progress of the Police Superintendent's Discretion Scheme which serves as an alternative to prosecution.

In 2006, the committee kept the Government's anti-drug policy under review. While observing a declining trend in both overall drug abuse and drug abuse among young people, the committee was concerned at the problem of psychotropic substance abuse among youngsters. The committee suggested that the drug problem should be tackled at root through early prevention.

District Fight Crime Committees (DFCCs) continued to play an important role in the fight against crime by monitoring the crime situation in districts and reflecting community concerns on law and order issues. Through district-based fight crime publicity activities, DFCCs also helped foster community awareness regarding crime prevention and encouraged community participation in combating crime.

To reinforce their close links, the committee and the DFCCs exchanged feedback regularly on the various issues they discussed. Committee members also took turns to attend DFCC meetings and functions. In November, a Fight Crime Conference hosted by the committee and attended by DFCC members provided a useful forum for discussion on crime issues of public concern and exchange of views on ways to combat crime.