WOMEN POLICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 196, 19 August 1943, Page 3

WOMEN POLICE

FOR PRESENT PROBLEMS

SOCIAL WORKERS' SUGGESTIONS Why not use more women police? This question comes from a number of social workers when asked for suggestions to help combat the social conditions which prevail in the city. After a difficult task and long years of waiting, responsible women of Auckland who had advocated the appointment of women police sat back with a sigh when at last certain appointments were made throughout the country. They had advocated uniformed women police. These did not come to pass, but they were relieved that a step forward had been made with un-uni-formed ones with their specific duties.

Now, at a time like this, social workers agree that women in uniform N would steady behaviour in city streets. They agree that the present women police, being ununiformed, are not regarded with respect because the girls who require their discipline and help feel that such policewomen are there only to gain evidence against them. Policewomen, they point out, should be the friends and guardians of the girls. It was explained that women with domestic troubles went to social workers and asked if it was possible for them to go and have a talk with a policewoman, and they had to be informed that the policewomen could not be interviewed. The work of the existing policewomen is all very well as far as it goes, sav the social workers, but the other side, the side of the uniformed woman, who should be there to give advice and help, is totally undeveloped as yet. Policewomen, it Is suggested, would require authority to advise young girls. Without uniform their interference is resented. It is also suggested that if there were not sufficient numbers of women police forthcoming, the numbers could be supplemented by an auxiliary force to work with the women in pairs. Women J.P.'s could assist in this.

It is pointed out that young people will mostly obe.y—the habit of obeying, learned at school, has not yet died out of them. Some of them need only to be told, and the right type of policewomen could give the needed help. This brings up the type of woman police, and it is emphasised that they should be thoroughly trained in the work, preferably by a woman with overseas experience. Has this been done in New Zealand, or are existing policewomen trained in usfial police routine by men? Before the appointment of the existing un-uniformed women police it was contended that the duties of patrolling parks at night were not suitable for women. Social workers' reply to this is that policewomen need not be required to patrol such places. They could do duty in city streets, where "pickups" are usually made, on or near wharves and railway stations, where troops are arriving, and in all public places. Here they could advise and help in the roles of guides and guardians with authority to act if necessary.