Police chief snubbed by officers after saying being insulted is 'part of the job'

Police inspectors yesterday snubbed an urgent meeting called by deputy commissioner Alfred Ma Wai-luk to clarify his remark that being insulted was part of their job.

A notice issued by Police Inspectors Association chairman Henry Ngo Chi-hang said the staff union disagreed that taking unreasonable insults was part of police work.

"The association is waiting quietly for the force management to clarify the deputy commissioner's comment," it said.

The association also called for abusive behaviour towards police officers to be made a criminal offence.

Ngo said the notice issued to the union's 2,500 members expressed its stance on Ma's remark and that he had nothing more to add.

The deputy commissioner made the remark in a radio interview on Sunday, saying that the force requested officers exercise restraint and display professionalism. "Tolerating such insults is also part of the job. They must accept [this]," he said.