WOMEN POLICE

Evening Star, Issue 16624, 5 January 1918, Page 9

WOMEN POLICE

GROWTH OF THE FORCE. Concerning the women police which is entirely distinct from tho organisation known as Women Patrols—the 'l,i; 1: . don 'Daily Telegraph' gives some jnt Pi 'w<ing details. In the report of 1916-17 it appears tliat the number of trained polit o women tip to July last was 612, and additions were being made daily. It is in response to the Ministry of Munitions that the service has attained its present dimensions, but there is no doubt (says the report) that the work w'hich these women are able to cany out in tho various metro, politan and provincial districts ia doins much tii prove to magistrates and authorfties that there is a sphere of activity for a permr>nent force, and that police women •can be trained to cany out their official duties in & responsible and effective manner. Training consists of drill, attendance at polity courts to learn tire procedure of the Court, and how to take and give evidence, first aid, lectures on civil and criminal law (especially tho Act* relating to women and children), patrolling, and domiciliary visiting. On this subject tho report states: "To thoso of us who have been engaged in the training of some 700 women since 1914 it lias come as something of a surprise to realise how little our country women know of the laws affecting women and children, and. of the regulations in force for tho carrying out of these flaws. Wo ore able to reporb many where the police women have given instructions' and advice to women, who will come gladly to a fellow-woman for help, but who would not be induced to apply to the male police. Wo think that the existence of a large farce of trained police women throughout the country would tend to dispel a great deal! of this ignorance, and would act favorably on the protection of children." With regard to factoiy work, the marked success which has attended the organisation has resulted in almost daily application, for police women for factories situated ineverv part of the United Kingdom. "We are sure," says the report, "that our patrons and subscribers will feel as proud as' wo aro of the intrepid police women who for the past 14 months have been carrying out these duties, which have called forth qualities of courage, tact, discretion, and endurance. . . . We would call attention to one factory from which both 'military and male police guard have been withdrawn. The factory- employs several thousand women in the manufacture and disposal of some of the most dangercus explosives. When an air raid is in progress the operatives are cleared from tire factovv. and the theds and magazines are left in solo charge of the firemen and poire women. They all know that they hj'd their lives in their hands, and no womanhas ever failed' at her post ot shirked her duty in the hour of danger." The funds for training the munition factorv police women come from the Ministry of Munitions, but the training of women for tlie ordinary police duties has to be met out of funds subscribed by supporters of the movement. Rescue work is a specialty of the police women, and a great number of Bad oases have been attended to by the members of the organisation.. '