POLICE REFORMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1926, Page 8

POLICE REFORMS

1 . BEAT DUTY REARRANGED. 3 The Commissioner of Police, Mr. W. . B. Mcllveney, introduced last, week, j on six months’ trial, a system by , which all sergeants and constables 3 doing beat duty- will have a full ’ twenty-four hours off duty three times a week without in any' way increasing 3 or decreasing the total,, number of hours worked; nor will it be. necessary to increase the number of men. Prior to last Monday the sergeants and men on beat, duty worked from 5 a.m. till Ip.m., and the next shift from 1 p,m.. till 9 p.m., followed by another- shift from 9 p.m. till 5 a.ni. Each lot of men remained on these shifts for a week, and then changed around, so that each had their turn at day and night duty. Under this arrangement a man had one week in every three weeks when he was able to' attend a theatre or any social entertainment .in the evening, and then he would have to rise very early to be on duty at 5 a.m. The longest period he would be off duty was sixteen hours. < Mr. Mcllveney has now introduced an arrangement by which one shift will, for instance, commence duty at 1 p.m. and finish at 9 p.m. The same men will commence next morning at 5 o’clock and finish at 1 p.m. These men will not resumes duty again till 1 p.m. on the following day, thus enabling them to have a full twentyfour hours off duty three days in every week. The same arrangement applies to each shift. . The scheme is on its trial for six months, at the conclusion of which the sergeants are tp furjnish reports to the commissioner as to the success or otherwise; of the innovation. Judging by what a Wellington reporter could gather among the city police the scheme provides a longdesired change. The commissioner has emphasised his wish that the men maintain the utmost efficiency,, and he is determined that it shall not be impaired in any jyay by the ,change he has introduced. The question of making suitable alterations in the uniform of sergeants and constables is to be reconsidered by the commissioner at an early date. New Zealand possesses extremes of climate and the uniform required for the mpre temperate climate of the southern districts of the South Island is quite unsuitable for the sub-tropical conditions of the northern districts of the North Island.