MELBOURNE’S CRIME WAVE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1924, Page 5

MELBOURNE’S CRIME WAVE

PATROL OF EX- SOLDIERS ESCORTS FOR WOMEN. Afl a result of the wave of lawlessness, in Melbourne, a number of ex- officer* of th? Australian Imperial Force have gathered together some ex-service men and formed them into a band to act ns patrolmen, and, if necessary, escorts for women going home from theatres unaccompanied. Householders may seenre the services of the patrol at a maximum charge of 3s. weekly. A circular issued by the new body ffays that each patrolman will carry identification papers, bearing hi* photograph, and will wear a special badge.

Individual patrolmen, in close co-oper-ation with the police, will patrol specified areas and rigorously inspect each dwelling house or shop of patrol clients, at intervals >f not more than half an hour. All patrolmen will be armed, if so desired by clients, and will meet trains or trams during the night, prepared for escort duty. One of the organisers said last week that he had 100 exservice men ready to take up the duty. The Chief Commissioner of police said that he dissociated himselif entirely from the. first paragraph of the circular which invited the patronage of householders in order that dastardly criminal offences, now of almost daily occurrence in suburban Melbourne, may come to a speedy end, and the persons and property of citizens and their families be adequately safeguarded. "We don’t require them to’ help us in criminal matters at rll,*’ Mr. Nicholson said, "but they have my sympathy as nightwatchmen, which is all they will really be. They will have cooperative police support.”