POLICE FORCE PROMOTION

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27678, 7 June 1955, Page 10

POLICE FORCE PROMOTION

MERIT SYSTEM IN LONDON

SIR HAROLD SCOTT’S VIEWS

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 6.

Merit promotion worked in the London Metropolitan Police Force, and the men liked it, said Sir Harold Scott, former commissioner of the force, in Auckland today. He arrived in the Orsova for a lecture tour.

“We wanted promotion for the best men—not just the oldest in service,” said Sir Harold Scott, describing how he introduced the merit system about 1947.

Till then the system had been selective, he said. Recommendations for promotion were made by junior officers to their divisional chief superintendents, and these* were passed to a district promotion board and then a central board. The rank and file of policemen had felt dissatisfied with this, said Sir Harold Scott There was a general feeling that under this system “kissing went by favour.” But the new merit system had been welcomed by the men’s organisation in the Police Federation of England and Wales, he said. Promotion to the rank of sergeant and sub-inspector—the first two steps up—was competitive. A man who passed his examinations and tests with highest marks would be first choice for a vacancy. Further promotions were based on a man’s record in the service.

Sir Harold Scott said there was little new in crime detection or prevention. Television was sometimes used in appeals for help for the public, but its use was limited. Usually it was used as an extension of newspaper publicity —a photograph of a wanted man would be flashed to viewers.

Sir Harold Scott said that a police cadet system introduced in 1948 had proved effective. Cadets joined the force at the age of 16|, and became constables at 19. A recent innovation was that a cadet’s time in the police was now counted as his national service.