THE BERLIN POLICE

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 43

THE BERLIN POLICE

For the Berlin householder to avoid having direct dealings with the police is quite ■impossible (writes the correspondent of the •Standard). Every time he engages a servant, the servant's name, grade, birthday, -birthplace, nationality, and religion must be -written out in full on papers specially pro-

vided for the purpose ; green papers are employed if the servant is leaving, yellow if entering, service. Nor is it sufficient to write these details onoe ; three such papers must be filled in on each occasion, signed by both employer and landlord, and then stamped and approved by the police. One paper remains with the householder, one with the landlord, and one with the police. The same formality has to be observed in

the case of visitors to the house. In this and in similar ways the police in Germany keep themselves informed about the identity of every single individual who resides in their oountry It would seem on the face of it quite impossible for any criminal ever to escape the eye of the "Force"; but it is doubtful whether the German police, despite these facilities, are any cleverer in running delinquents to earth than are the

members of Scotland Yard. Cyclists have to be very careful not to contravene the regulations issued by the police. They must never allow themselves to be seen riding with their feet on the fcot rests, or without one hand on the handlebar; precise instruotions are given as to how corners shall be turned, vehicles pas ed, or foot passengers warned of the cyclist's approach. Every cyclist, on receiving permission from the

police to cycle, is provided with a little card, on which his own personal appearance is minutely described, as also his age, status, and birthplace. On the inside of this card are a dozen paragraphs, each of which instructs him in the art of ringing his bell, mounting, and dismounting from his machine ; and, in fact, in the general behaviour which becomes the sober-minded I cycling citizen.