'Police Should Start Criminal Probe Into Officers'

A former member of the Independent Police Complaints Council, Eric Cheung, has called on the force to carry out criminal investigations into what he believes may be illegal acts carried out by some officers during recent anti-extradition protests.

Speaking to RTHK’s Janice Wong after attending a radio programme, Cheung, who’s also a legal scholar from the University of Hong Kong, said he’s noticed several incidents over the past few weeks in which officers might have committed criminal offences.

“The IPCC can only handle complaints investigation, but insofar as there's any serious misbehaviour which amounts to criminal offences, it is outside the purview of the IPCC," Cheung said.

"For example, the incident that involved the suspected planting of evidence against the accused that would amount to criminal offence of perverting the course of justice, that would justify criminal investigation. And for other situations like after subduing the suspect, we have seen police officers still use unnecessary force to hit and harm the arrested person. Again, that would involve criminal investigation,” Cheung said.

Despite repeated calls for an independent probe to look into the extradition bill saga and alleged police brutality, Chief Executive Carrie Lam once again rejected the demand on Tuesday, saying the current complaints mechanism involving the IPCC is good enough.

The Chief Executive's comment comes a day after the vice-chairman of the IPCC, Tony Tse, admitted that manpower is stretched at the council, adding that it will be very difficult for it to submit an investigation report within six months.