Post offices tighten robbery safeguards
Post offices across the city are beefing up security in the wake of a recent spate of robberies at branches collecting large amounts of cash.
Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Stephen Ip Shu-kwan yesterday said that since the launch of the PayThruPost service in April 2000, the Post Office had consulted with the Crime Prevention Bureau to improve security in post offices.
'This includes installing glass screens at all PayThruPost counters, partitioning off the PayThruPost counters into separate cashier cubicles, and installing [closed-circuit TV] at selected post offices that handle large amounts of cash,' Mr Ip said.
There have been three post office robberies in the past two months, at Tai Po, Tuen Mun and Ma On Shan.
Following the spate of robberies, the police were consulted and reviewed security arrangements at all post offices. About 129 branches provide the PayThruPost service for paying bills.
The comments came in response to a question by legislator Ma Fung-kwok, who asked about details of the improved security measures. He asked whether fee-collection areas should be separated from areas for routine postal business.
Mr Ma also asked whether guidelines had been issued and drills conducted to teach post office staff how to behave during a robbery.
Glass screens have been installed at some post offices while retrofitting screens have been installed in others, to prevent robbers from gaining access to the back of service counters that handle cash.
Separate cashier cubicles have been set up for PayThruPost counters at more post offices that handle large amounts of cash.
'For the safety of staff and clients, the Post Office provides regular classroom training and briefing sessions for all counter staff in robbery prevention measures and contingency arrangements in the even of a robbery,' Mr Ip said.
Guidelines had been issued to all counter staff, he added.
