THE POLICE FORCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 18

THE POLICE FORCE

NEW REGULATIONS. DUTIES OF DIFFERENT RANKS. The regulations' under the Police Force Act are published in the Gazette. They contain many now and import-ant conditions and are very compiehensive. The relative status of members of the detective branch and the uniform branch is set out. In the former branch the rank of senior detective is created, and is made equal to that of senior sergeant-in the uniform branch. Uniform sergeants and detective sergeants are of equal rank, as are constables and detectives.

Provision is made for the interchange of members of the force from one branch of the service to a corresponding rank in the other.

The general duties of commissioned officers have been somewhat elaborated, but ho substantial changes have been made. The duties of sectional sergeants have been set rut in considerable detail as compared with former regulations. Several new regulations relate to accidents in the street, in factories and on board ship, and the course of action to be followed in connection with them..

With regard to the clerical staff former regulation 166 has been amended by repealing the provision requiring a constable to« servo four years before ho might_ be selected for clerical work. It is provided that no senior sergeant employed on clerical duty shall be promoted to commissioned rank until he has served at least two years as senior sergeant outside the district office. An important regulation is No. 172, which provides: "Every reasonable consideration shall ba given to complaints or. representations from members of the force, but combinations shall be severely dealt with as being of discipline: Provided, however, that nothing in this regulation shall be held to prohibit members of the force from becoming members of the Public Service Association of New Zealand, -any meeting held with the authority of the commissioner or the officer in charge, as the case may be, shall not be deemed to be in contravention of this regulation." Another important new regulation •provides that the police are not to institute prosecutions for perjury, whether in civil or criminal cases, except by direction of the court in which perjury takes place, or, in default of such direction, with the permission of the Attorney-general. When perjury is alleged to have been committed in criminal cases instituted by the police it is tho duty of tho police in proper cases to make representations to the Commissioner with a view to obtaining the consent of the Attorney-general to a prosecution. Among new regulations respecting tho detective branch is one providing that as vacancies occur constables of exemplary conduct who have two years' service and who appear to have the prescribed qualifications for detectives will be detailed for duty under a senior detective, on probation for six months. After that time d favourably reported upon by the officer in charge of the district, they may be further employed on detective duties under the name of "acting detectives." As such they will continue duty under a senior detective for a period of two years, and if their work gives satisfaction they may after the expiry of that time be appointed detectives. A new regulation deals with the appointment and employment of district and Native constables.

Provisions respecting the attendance of police at fires, which did not appear in the late have been restored'. The hours of duty which wore formerlyfixed by regulation are now to be fixed by the Commissioner.

It is provided that members of the uniform branch may be employed in plain clothes on inquiries (other than detective duties) which should not be made in uniform.

In the sections dealing with promotions it is provided that the Commisioner may accelerate the increments of the pay of any member of the force who has shown, special aptitude and consistent zeal in the performance of his duties without affecting l iis position in the seniority list, provided 'hat any promotion or advancement made without regard to senioritv shall be sneciilly gazetted. Seniority lists will be kept at headquarters, in which officers and other members of the force will be shown according to their standing in their respective ranks. Any member of the force may sit for examination qualifying .for the rank of sub-inspector, and if he passes such examination ho will be deemed to have passed the examinations necessary to qualify for the l ranks of sergeant and senior sergeant Officers of the force on retirement may ba permitted to retain their rank and wear the prescribed uniform of such rank on official or public occasions: the letter "R" to be placed on the shoulder-cords or on thfv shoulder-straps below the badges of rank. Inspectors and sub-inspectors on retiring after completing 15 years' service as officers may receive a step of honorary rank as a reward for good and efficient "service'.