POLICE AND CORONATION.

Northern Advocate, 12 April 1911, Page 3

POLICE AND CORONATION.

responsibility"of guarding • foreign princes.

Scotland Yard (the police headquarters in London) has an anxious time nhead of it, and the .chiefs will be devoutedly thankful when June and July have been added to the past. Not till the last foreign Royalty has departed will they, be able to breathe freely, and at> some of the princes will doubtless prolong their stay in order to take part in the festivities of July, the suspense will be prolonged. June will be anything but a merry month for the police. There must be extra, duty in plenty, though it will have its compensation in the shape of special pay and a medal, as well as the sensation of being more or less in. the picture of a historic ceremony. A big force will be necessary to shepherd the crowds on the two processional days, and many smaller occasions, such as the arrival of the Royal guests, will make a large demand on the police at the disposal of the Comn.issioner. It is probable that a total o f at least 20,000 of the rank and file will be necessary for constabulary duty in London during June. A couple of months ■ ago the Chief Commissioner issued a circular letter + o officers who have left the force since 1899, inviting them to serve for a period of 14 days certain or one month to assist in' preserving order in the rti'eets during the Coronation. As the pick of the men, who leave the force ?« soon as they have earned a pension, iire in regular employment, there is not a very great response to this invitation —though the pay is good, being £3 per week for the first fortnight, oi £10 for 28days. But it is upon the Criminal Investigation Department of Scotland Yard that the stress of the occasion will chiefly fall. London during the approaching season will be the hunting ground of all the "crooks" who can find the money to go there from the Continent, orr America, or the Colonies. The "confidence man" is sure to reap a rich harvest, unless the craftsmen who work in that particular branch of criminal industry are "warned off" by the experts of the detective force, who have a peculiar and extensive knowledge of the fraternity. The large gathering of Royal and exalted guests from abroad will, howover, be the major responsibility of the Special Branch of the Department. At such times the foreign police render all possible assistance, but even with their help Scotland Yard will have its work cut out to provide for all emergencies. Westminister Abbey alone will require a considerable force of detectives to guard it. During the work which will be begun • a couple of months hence, of making the Abbey ready for the Coronation, the workmen will include a number of police officers wearing suitable aprons and caps. On the night before the actual ceremony the vaults: and lower portions oi: the Abbey will be carefully searched by the Chief Commissioner and other c-iFicials, while the invited congregation will in many cases be ushered to tlieir seats by smart-looking gentlemen whom it would scarcely be suspected were Scotland Yard officers. |