Hong Kong police step up crackdown on youth crime after commissioner says rise in social media use during Covid pandemic helped fuel problem

Campaign to highlight online job scams, illegal debt collection, serious drugs offences, online dating traps and nude chat blackmail. Police’s public relations wing to distribute 20,000 anti-crime booklets to more than 490 schools and sponsoring bodies. — SCMP

Police in Hong Kong planned to step up a crackdown on juvenile crime after the force’s chief on Aug 31 said a pandemic jump in social media use was a major factor in an increase in the number of young people arrested for various offences.

Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee said the force would highlight five areas – online job fraud, illegal debt collection, serious drugs offences, online dating traps and nude chat blackmail.