Photo: Anthea LEE Shuk-wai, Chief Executive of SRACP (middle) took group photo with speakers and guests (Left 2, Vivian W. Q. Lou Director of Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong; Right 2, Hong Kong Police Force New Territories South Regional Headquarters, Crime New Territories South Regional Headquarters, Madam Yeung)

Press Conference on the elderly arrestees and mental health of Project HOPE

Conference highlights SRACP’s research in " The Elderly and Mental Health " of Project HOPE

In order to identify, prevent and reduce habitual offending problem of the elderly, The Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention, Hong Kong (SRACP) organised a Press Conference on the elderly arrestees and mental health of Project HOPE on 19 August. Both quantitative and qualitative research were conducted by our Research & Development Division in the past two years, with a total of 148 in-depth follow-up arrestee cases. The findings indicated that 75% of the elderly became first offender when they were 60 years old or above and one in every three elderly arrestees had cognitive problem. Therefore, providing psychological assessment and counselling to elderly and their family to alleviate stress during prosecution processes was necessary.

A representative of Hong Kong Police Force (New Territories South) shared the aim of the project is to identify the special needs of the elderly and raise the public’s awareness. At the end of the press conference, SRACP gave five suggestions, including specialised service to be regularised, collaborative mechanism to be optimized, special needs of elderly arrestees to be identified, online/offline platforms to be created and volunteer service teams to be established.

For further information please click on the links below (Chinese version only)︰

• RTHK - SRACP evaluates the condition of elderly arrestees by surveys About 65% have symptoms of depression
• RTHK《News Feature》- SRACP says most of elderly arrestees have symptoms of depression
• Bastille Post - SRACP evaluates the condition of elderly arrestees by surveys About 65% have symptoms of depression
• Bastille Post - Elderly crime is on the rise, half of them involved in theft
• Headline Daily - Elderly crime is on the rise, half of them involved in theft
• HK01 - Aged 70 man is cheated and lost one million HK dollars, suspecting of being involved in money laundering
• Ming Pao - 148 elderly arrestee cases are followed up by SRACP Survey finds that two of three have mental health problem
• Sina.com.hk - SRACP evaluates the condition of elderly arrestees by surveys About 65% have symptoms of depression
• Oriental Daily - 75% of the elderly become first offender when they are 60 years old or above
• Sing Tao Daily - Elderly crime is on the rise, half of them involved in theft
• Wen Wei Po - About 65% elderly arrestees have symptoms of depression SRACP suggests to provide psychological assessment and counselling

Press release (Chinese version only) and photos can be downloaded here