BELOW STRENGTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 44, 20 August 1941, Page 8

BELOW STRENGTH

THE POLICE FORCE

POSITION IN WELLINGTON

STANDARD MUST BE KEPT

"There is a shortage of men. We are continually recruiting, but we are never able to keep up to our authorised strength," said the Superintendent of Police at Wellington (Mr. C. W. Lppdell), when inquiries were made today as to the position of the Police Force in the district. Mr. Lopdell emphasised the fact that the force, although seeking recruits, did not intend to relax its standards, but said it was probable that men of not quite the same physical standard might be taken on for special work for the duration of the war only. "Our duties," he said, "are increasing and becoming more urgent, but our man-power always threatens to be decreased by the desire of many of our members to get away, although the regulations have now prohibited this. EXTRA WORK FOR MEN. "We are continually recruiting, but we are never able to keep to our authorised strength. Each district has its quota, which cannot be increased without authority, but my district, since the outbreak of war, has never been able to keep up to this. Our great difficulty is that when we have sickness—and recently we have had quite a lot—our men are called upon to work extra time, to the inconvenience of members of the force who require, and expect, to get their leave." j Immediately recruiting started, said the Superintendent, all the desirable type of candidates for the force rushed to the Colours and left the country | before conscription came in. "The kind of man we want," he said, "is the kind of man who does not want to stay here when there j is a war on, and that is just what | the men we have with us say." The standard of recruit for the force would not be relaxed, said Mr. Lopdell, and although the highest type might not be forthcoming, the Police Force would still keep within the standards laid down. They might have to recruit, for special work that it was anticipated would fall to the force, a special group of men whose physical qualifications might not be up to those of the regular police, but such a step would be only for the duration of conditions brought on by the war.