SHORE PATROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 189, 12 August 1925, Page 8

SHORE PATROL.

THE NAVAL POLICE,

THEIR HANDY BATONS.

Firat of the American sailors to march through Queen Street was a squad of the "Shore Patrol," the epeeial police who will look after the "Jackies" who might take it into their heads to do things quite off the programme. The squad came ashore at about 3 p.m. yesterday and marched to the headquarters which have been fitted out in the gym>. nasium at the Central Police Station. The men are distinguished by the letters "S.P." on their sleeves and by their dangerous-looking batons which they wear at their sides. Most of us in Auckland have seen these weapons only through the medium of pictures in whicl gallant New York policemen take parii but here they are in the real thing,, ant if rumour is correct the patrol men knoy how to use them if necessary. ■ Special arrangements have been macb by our police to deal with the traffa problems resulting from the crowds that throng the town, especially at nigh;. About forty constables from country stations have been brough to the city t> reinforce the local officers. SenioiSergeant Edwards is in charge, and has his headquarters at the Queen's whari. The matter of dealing with offending "Jackies" is left, however, solely to th» naval authorities. Whether arrested by a shore patrolman or one of our own policemen, American sailors wiE be taken direct to the gymnasium instead of to the police cells. Therefore none of the sailors will appear in our Police Court, but will be dealt with by their own officials.