CADETS FOR POLICE FORCE

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21050, 29 December 1933, Page 6

CADETS FOR POLICE FORCE

TO THR EDITOR OF THE TRKSS. Sir,—Much criticism has appeared in the newspapers lately about police methods, etc., and I am surprised that none of the correspondents suggested that a new phase of manning the force should appear. I refer to the appointment of cadets, after passing of matriculation and civil service examinations similar to the system adopted bv other branches of the Public Service. The cadets for the police force could be appointed at. say, the age of lij years; at present the enlistment aye for members of the force is 25 years, I believe, the educational status being that of the passage of a State school sixth standard. Physical qualifications of all cadets must not, of course, be overlooked. The qualifications of a sixtli standard pass do not scorn at the present moment a sufficiently high educational and intellectual status for the increasing clerical work involved in the successful control of a police group. The cadet would undertake the clerical duties now carried out in many instances by constables and sergeants of good physique, and thus release these men for patrol duties, for which many of them would be more suited. This method would also be less costly to the Police Department, leaving more roonev to be spent in purchase and upkeep of suitable vehicles for prompt crime detection and scan®!. These cadets could bo trained in the department of criminology and other branches of crime detection, and alter a period of necessary official duties, could be drafted out for patrol work and for control of small stations. At present, many young constables, po- - only a sixth standard pass qualification, find the official duties c.i controlling a small station very difficult, and it is the opinion of a large majority of the public that some chance is necessary in the future manning of our police force. \ ours, tU '" PRO BONO publico. December I!M3.