LONDON WOMEN POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20538, 12 April 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

LONDON WOMEN POLICE.

HUNDRED NOW ENROLLED.

MISS PETO'S BIG TASK

With the increase from 60 to 100 in the number of women police attached to the London Metropolitan Force, a. complete reorganisation of the worhen's branch of the service is to take place in June.

The final details of the reorganisation have not yet been settled, but numerous proposals have been considered at conferences between Home Office officials, and the heads of the Metropolitan Police. At each conference the need for a woman head of the force was urged. As a result, it was decided to appoint Miss D. Peto, who has charge of Liverpool's women police, to a temporary position as adviser to the Commissioner. She takes up the position this month, and will be provided with a room at Scotland lard. One of Miss Peto's first, duties will be to consider the numerous proposals for the reorganisation of the Women s Force which have been before the conferences, and draw up a report for the Commissioner on the questions of training, teims of service, uniform, and the particular classes of work on which women should be employed. Unner present conditions women enter the polico force in London very much on the same footing as men. On being enlisted, thev are sent to Peel House to receive training under men supenntendents and inspectors. One of the strongest points made at the recent conferences was the need foi separate and special training quarters for the women. Whether the women police should be organised as a seperate unit and bo under the control of a woman officer is another point for the• consideration ol Miss Peto. . . , In some quarters it is considered that were the women serving directly undei women officers their sphere of usefulness could be greatly extended. It is not suggested, however, that the women's service should bo kept entirely distinct from the ordinary police so far as orders and the working arrangements of divisions are concerned. , The proposal is that Miss Peto should devise a scheme which will serve as a link between the two bodies, to ensure efficient working and co-operation. There appears little doubt that in the. reorganisation scheme far greater use will be made of women police by the C.I.D. at Scotland Yard and in the various divisions. It is considered that properly trained women detectives would be able to obtain certain classes of information, which is essential if a successful war against crime is to be waged, than the ordinary officers of the C.I.D.