Macau’s Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak (pictured in a file photo), said on Monday that the city’s government planned to enhance policing around the city’s casinos.
Mr Wong’s comments were made after a police officer fired a warning shot on January 3 evening following being assaulted by three men. The three men had been asked by the police officer to stop smoking in a non-smoking area outside casino resort Galaxy Macau.
The police officer reportedly sustained minor injuries. He has temporarily been transferred to a desk job to recover emotionally from the incident, Mr Wong said on Monday. The three men – all from mainland China – now face charges of assaulting a police officer, which carry a sentence of up to five years in prison.
The secretary added that the government would consider equipping more police officers with pepper spray, in order to provide officers with an additional method for restraining violent suspects if necessary.
Representatives from the police and the city’s gaming regulator meanwhile met on Monday afternoon to discuss methods of improving cooperation between police officers and private security guards at casino resorts in order to ensure a quick response to emergency situations. In a joint press release issued on Tuesday, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, the Judiciary Police and the Public Security Police Force stated that casino operators should improve training of their security staff, and set guidelines for response to unforeseen incidents.
