THEIR SECRET GUARD

Hawera Star, Volume L, 14 February 1931, Page 16

THEIR SECRET GUARD

17'VERY time any important representativc of a foreign Power visits Great Britain, whether it be a Minister, a nation's business adviser, or a Royal personage, Scotland Tard wrinkles its brow in thought.

A few instructions arc given, one or two messages sent out, without fuss or publicity, and our very perfect police organisation takes in hand the job of making the visit run without a single hitch (says a (contributor to the “Evening Standard”). One of the jobs of the particular department of New Scotland Aard to which I tised to be attached was to see that our country retained its reputation for this kind of safety. There would be most unpleasant, international complications if anything- untoward happened.

Our first care, by’’ means of our intricate and perfectly-linked organisation, not only in Great'"Britain, but with the co-operation of the police and detectives of the visitor’s and many anothc: foreign State, is to look through the lists of all the known “possibles” who might give trouble.

This includes anarchist associations and dangerous maleonents, doubtful

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Visitors in Britain

aliens —particularly those the prince’s own country—agitators likely to stir up trouble, over-active . tubthumpers, and, in fact, anyone with a motive for making a sensation. These people are carefully watched, and arrangements made with local police which would result, in an arrest should the}' attempt anything likely to cause a breach of the King’s peace. This action really draws the teeth of the clanger. But every inch of the route the visior will follow is carefully watched and police-guarded, every railway line to be used doubly teste.■ immediately before the “special” approaches, street-crowds are kept moving, and inflammatory public speaking among them stopped at once. Extra care is taken all along tho route to prevent the carrying of firearms by unauthorised people; public halls where ceremonies are to be held are combed of uninvited guests, and of any persons whose bearing or history renders them open to suspicion

Perhaps the greatest safeguard of all is the quickness of observation, combined with a cheery good nature, unequalled anywhere else in the world, which makes the British 'bobby” the brother of the British crowd.