THE NIGHT PATROL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 295, 26 September 1935, Page 12

THE NIGHT PATROL

UNRESTING SCOTLAND YARD. Scotland Yard’s crime-lighting night service lias neA'cr been so highly organised as iioav —and: conferences are taking place to improve it still further, says a “Daily Telegraph” correspondent.

There are iioav 30 Avireless-equipped patrol cars on, duty throughout the night, dotted here and there all over London. Their movements can be altered at a, second’s notice from /Scotland Yard, the nerve centre in control of the crime preventative forces throughout the sleeping metropolis. I have driven through London at 3 a.m., and at regular intervals have come across the police cars, cruising sloAvly, a man at the back Avith headphones, ever alert for the message Avhich may send! them hurrying to a burglary or other crime. In outlying suburbs also, ten or twelve miles from Central London, these cars are met. The Metropolitan area has been divided up in such a way that no part is left unguarded. The moment Avarning is receiver at Scotland Yard’s information room of a robbery, car stealing - , attack, or othci crime, the relevant facts are Avirplessed to the patrol cars. A senior detective and an assistant come on duty at 11 p.m., leady to deal with any emergency, while the official records—finger prints, photographs of known crooks, characteristics of their methods and other information—are uoav instantly available at any hour. Apart from the patrol cars, the Flying Squad are often out on their IaAV - ful occasions,” just as ready to take part in any sudden emergency. To complete the chain, the uniformed constable, walkind silent streets, is often as much in touch Avith events as the men in Scotland Yard’s Avireless room.

The flashing light of a police box attention, and a telephone call at once give him facts such as a fe\A' months ago he might not have learned for some hours.