WOMEN POLICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21920, 4 April 1933, Page 9

WOMEN POLICE

WORK IN AUSTRALIA OUTLINE OF DUTIES. In support of a remit from Auckland suggesting that the National Council of Women of New Zealand should urge that the Government legislate for the appointment of women police in the four centres, Mrs Benson, at the annual conference of the council last Wednesday, read a report on the work of the women police in South Australia. The report stated that the women police, who were appointed in 1915, were an organised department under the direction of the chief woman constable, whose official title was Principal of Women Police. Members of the department had suitable office accommodation attached to the police stations. They did not wear uniforms, but dressed in neat, smart, unobtrustivo clothes. Nine women police were stationed at Adelaide, two at the shipping port, and one at Port Pine, a country shipping port. The women police took statements from all female witnesses in cases of indecent assault, carnal knowledge, child murder, concealment of birth, bigamy, etc., and they attended courts in which minors and females were giving evidence. It was the opinion of those controlling the South Australian Police Department that this work could be done exclusively by women in every civilised country. The women police were available for work in any department of the police force in which their services were specially needed, but their attention was principally confined to women and children. They searched women, girls and children, and did escort duty for women and children; received complaints from the public, and interviewed men, women and children. They patrolled all the city streets, public reserves,, etc., and in summer the beaches and parks, and when necessary warned and advised young couples. In some cases they took young girls home and informed their parents of the conduct of their daughters. Wayward girls were given advice, found employment and everything possible was done for them before resorting to the drastic step of having them committed to a reformatory. Neglected and uncontrollable children came under the supervision of this department, and, when necessary, arrests were made and cases brought before the courts. Runaway girls and missing women were searched for, and seldom did the women police fail to locate them. During the depression the women police concentrated as much as possible on securing employment for girls and women, and through this medium many were placed in posiDo'mestic problems invariably formed part of the daily programme of the department, and advice on the legal position of husbands and wives was given. The ideal of the women police was to bridge gaps made in matrimonial affairs, and °never, except in cases of gross immorality or cruelty, to give assistance in obtaining separations. Generally speaking, the work of the women police in South Australia was preventive and reformative, and arrests were only resorted to in extremity. The general opinion of the conference was that women police were desirable, and the remit was carried.