METROPOLITAN POLICE CELEBRATE CENTENARY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6919, 27 May 1929, Page 7

METROPOLITAN POLICE CELEBRATE CENTENARY

Grand Parade ORIGINAL “PEELERS” AND POLICEWOMEN KING’S CONGRATULATIONS British Official Wireless. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. RUGBY May 24. One hundred years ago Sir Robert Peel, who was then Home Secretary, established a force of police in this country. To-morrow the centenary will be celebrated by a great parade of Metropolitan police in Hyde Park. Over 12,000 men will be assembled and the Prince of Wales, accompanied by Sir William Joynson-Hieks, the Home Secretary, will review them. After? wards the police will march to Buckingham Palaco headed by the Prince of Wales and Viscount Byng of Vimy, the Chief Commissioner of Police. “Finest of its Kind” THREE DAYS’ EXTRA LEAVE GRANTED MEN. Australian Press Association. Received Sundav 7 p.m. LONDON, May 25. The London police force is the finest thing of its kind civilisation has produced,” says the Evening News, in describing to-day’s celebrations of the centenary of its establishment. Thirteen thousand policemen marched past the Prince of Wales at Hyde Park. The King’s messago of congratulation declared: “The force which for a century has been responsible for the maintenance of order and the prevention of crime in the metropolis has developed a highly efficient organisation. I share the feelings of admiration and respect with which the Metropolitan police are universally regarded.” Three days’ extra leave has been granted to all ranks in honour of the occasion. The parade was a wonderful spectacle, almost like a military review. Many policemen were covered with war medals and the parade included detectives, policewomen, and mounted men, while pensioners, “Old Charlies,” Bow street runners, “Blue Devils,” and the “Raw Lobster Gang,” were all represented. Fifteen hundred “specials” lined the route.