YOUNG CONSTABLES

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 112, 8 November 1920, Page 8

YOUNG CONSTABLES

A SPECIAL APPEAL;

The Commissioner of Police is inviting in our., advertising, columns, applications/ frojiiiijnj/e^ding'.retiniits for , the Police Forcej with'"'a special appeal to young men of about twenty years of age'and upwards, to come forward to/be initiated into the mysteries of crime (which always have such a. fascinating human interest);

and to learn the way of unravelling them. The policy of receiving such youthful recruite has been adversely commented upon by some country.newspapers,, their criticism being allegedly based upon the mature opinion of experienced members of the Police Force. A case occurred at Auckland which tends, to discount that view very considerably. Constable Holt was on beat duty at midnight on 25th April last in Albert-street, when he heard the faint clink of metal upon metal inside Ferguson and Co.'s warehouse. He flashed^ his torch on the glass ddpr, -and noticed the;faint outline ot a man inside.- The constable called out to him,' and asked what was wrong. The man did not reply, but promptly vanished into the recesses of the building. Constable Holt blew bis whistle, and within a minute Constable Brown, on ihe next beat, came to his assistance^ Examining the door, they found it had been forced with a jemmy or other tool. All . the doors were locked. As they were going up the last flight of stairs they heard the' intruder breaking through the door at the--top of the stairs. Here Constable Brdwn took up his position to guard against an escape, while Constable Holt went through to explore the interior. He found his quarry crouching behind some boxes. The intruder shouted "Hands up! " and raised his hand in which a. metal instrument, which the constable could not distinguish, glinted. Holt immediately switched off his. torch, and hurled h^s baton in;the direction x of the burglar,..who, at the same instant,! threw a large chisel which grazed 'the. constable's face, inflicting a slight skin wound. Constable Holt closed with him, and got him down, and in a few moments he was secured by the, two constables and 'taken to the Police Station. \ It was 'found;'that' thebbator had been truly. ( aimed,,.and inflicted .an „ injury which necessitated and received prompt medical "attention. "'Stolen' articles'were found in " the man's possession, some of which had been taken from other premises in Al-bert-street the same night. He was con"victed'at the~ Supreme Court, Auckland, of - three charges of burglary, and sente'rice'3. "to' 'three years' 'imprisonment. Subsequent inquiries led to his conviction at Palmerston North' for breaking and entering and theft, for which he was i sentenced. Finally on 22nd ultimo he j was sentenced to five more years of imprisonment for sis charge* of breaking and entering at the Thames, one similar charge at Hamilton, and three similar charges at Wellington. When it is stated that Holt had been sworn in" a "permajlent" constable only two months after three months'probation ,as a temporary constable; that Constable Brown had done only two months of the three required as probation for permanent appointment, and that each was only twenty-two years of age, it will be seen that objections to fecruits om the ground of youthfiilnefs require to be qualified. On being interviewed about this matter, the Commissioner intimated that the Superintendent ,it ( Auckland had made recommendations iii favour of these young constables, with the result that they start off: at the beginning of their career with a .favourable record on their merit sheets, 'besides receiving a substantial monetary reward by way of appreciation and encouragement.". These young men have shown that they are the type desired ior the Police Force, possessing, the quali^ ties of vigilance, alertness,, resoucefulress, and courage. There is room yet for mofc of that kind.