NEWS FOR WOMEN FOUR WOMEN APPOINTED TO N.Z. DETECTIVE FORCE

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27736, 13 August 1955, Page 2

NEWS FOR WOMEN FOUR WOMEN APPOINTED TO N.Z. DETECTIVE FORCE

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 12. Four members of the women’s division of the New Zealand Police Force have been assigned to take up duties with the Criminal Investigation Branch in Wellington and Auckland. The appointments are part of a move to extend the work of women members of the force. The first women to take up her appointment in Wellington is Constable Nancv Irwin, the daughter of a Palmerston North policeman. It is almost five years since Constable Irwin applied to join the force, mainly because of the interest created by being a policeman’s daughter. “Living in a police house in my early childhood gave me a pretty good insight into police work,” Constable Irwin said. “Our ‘customers’ used to have to go to the office past my bedroom. The walls were pretty thin, so I got a pretty good idea of what it was all about.” Constable Irwin’s introduction to the work of the force was in the arms and aliens office in Wellington. From there, she graduated to the general inquiries section. Policewomen were taught to deal with any emergency, and to take the initiative in organisation at accidents or whenever they were required.

whether on or off duty, she .said. Special jobs included patrolling parks and wharves, and other places where women or children in difficulties might be found. Constable Irwin’s work with the Criminal Investigation Branch will be a little different, according to Chief Detective J. Craigie. Constable Irwin and the other woman appointee in Wellington, Constable Harrison, would be treated in the same way as any other detective, he said. “There are, of course, some cases on which men would be more suitable, but there are a thousand and one things we get involving women and children, and that’s where the two policewomen will come into their own.” tie said. “For instance, there might be a murder involving a woman somewhere in .Wellington tomorrow. Then I would "take Constable Irwin along. “Investigating thefts in dance hall dressing-rooms, and searching a house would be obvious jobs for a policewoman. Another thing we might require Constable Irwin for is observation duties, where a man would be too obvious. “Those are some of the things we will want her to do, but there are hundreds of other dull, ordinary, every-day jobs to be done, too, and she will get her share,’’ said Chief Detective Craigie.