WOMEN CONSTABLES TO REMAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 11

WOMEN CONSTABLES TO REMAIN.

REDUCED NUMBERS BUT GREATER POWERS. LONDON, February 17. lt is apt to be forgotten nowadays that the New Zealand authorities in Blighty really set on foot what became in fact the germ of the women police movement when it put some of its fine V.M.C.A. women helpers into military uniform to do patrol work among "on leaves" in the Strand and various other haunts of that London underworld which preyed on Diggers with money to burn and in their pockets. We are reminded of this to-day by the announcement that the women "patrols," more commonly known as police, are not to be economised out of existence. They were near at extinction point when the Geddes axe was first lifted, but public protest was so strong that the worst was averted. A gallant twenty are to be retained, and the grievance that although they were dressed as constables they had no right of arrest, as did their male confreres, is to be removed. They will be allocated to those divisions in the London police organisation in which their services can, in the opinion of the Commissioner, be most usefully employed. They will form part of the ordinary establishment of the division, and will work under the direction of the superintendent and his officers in the same way as male members of a proper system of crop rotation, Provision will, however, be made whereby, without prejudice to the ordinary responsibility of the superintendent, the welfare and general conditions of service of the women police, wherever stationed, will be brought within the purview of the senior woman police officer of the force, and for this purpose all necessary facilities will be afforded both for inspection by that officer and for representations to her. through the prescribed channel of communication on the part of the members of the rank | and file. She will have the rank of inspector,! and will also be taken into consultation j in regard to the recruitment and promo-! tion of women police. The women patrols are being sworn in as constables. They will thus have exactly the same standing as male members of the force. It will be understood, however, that they are not expected to undertake any duty which they may be physically unfitted to . carry out. The term "woman constable" will in future be used instead of "woman patrol.''