WOMEN PATROLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12069, 26 July 1917, Page 4

WOMEN PATROLS.

[From Oxtr Correspondent.^ LONDON, June & Fired by the description of 4 "special" patrol as a new candidate for feminist distinction, I, set out for Regent's Park to find what manner of woman had been appointed park keepers with all the insignia of the post—the whistle, the power of arrest, and keys to the gates of all the royal park* in London.

The park was humming with th( traffic of an afternoon in high summer, Children frolickced on the grass, sicl soldiers sunned themselves on'the seats, old folk watched grandchildren, and nursemaids wheeled prams in their hun< dreds along the big Royal Avenue. Ajj innocent enough scene, yet law and' order must take a hand in its control.

The woman patrol started as a wai measure, hut she has proved' so valuable that there is no doubt that she will be incorporated into the metropolitan and country police forces after the war. There are 2284 women patrols now. and the difference between them and' the women police is that they work undei the Chief Commissioner of Police, ano are paid from the polic* funds. Those who are patrolling the streets start out from the police station each day, and two specially meritorious patrols hav< been appointed park keepers. I soon found my quarry in conversation with an old man taking his afternoon airing on a park seat, and as I ap. prpacherl she took out her whistle, of office ana whistled. At once in th< near distance I saw a negligent nursemaid look up from her " Girl who Tool the High Road -'' series novelette, and, seeing her errant charge trampling thft flower beds, she woke up to her duties. The naughty child was dragged hack to tho path of duty. The woman patrol's attentions to th« flower bed desnoilor I was able to prooeed to attack. " When evervthing in the garden is lovely, as it is* to-dav," she said, " nothing could be much pleas* anter than my job. The English religion is naturally law-abiding but one mustn't he. too easily lulled"into slack control. _ The worst of our constant troubles is the big boy who sneaks tho youngsters' bread and margarine, for this lovely park is a happy retreat for the big families from the surroundinj slums. You can see here," and we left the more respectable and garden-like avenue for tho grass beyond. A small girl of eleven in charge of three mites, the youngest just walking. They had a fine liberal bread ration all spread out, rather a late dinner for them, as it was nearing three o'clock in the afternoon.

"Personally," she went on, "J find most, trying the constant stream ol questions addressed To us. We'd hav< to bo walking encyclopedias to answei thorn. What do you think one girl asked me yesterday?— ; What was on at Wyndham's Theatre.' Touching, I call it. their faith in us. Of course we expect a London policeman to know a lot of things, but really I don't think anyone, would expect men in the force ir. parts of London outside the thentrfl area to Tell off-hand what a theatre a few miles off was showing. Anyhow, vre do the hcv-l we can. I've just had s poor lame soldier ask me what 'bus tr take for n certain street. As it. was not von- far off, and it would take as much walkiug to get, a 'bus as to go si raight, I sent him on in a taxi. You should have, seen how delighted the poor fellow was.'' This park policeman's training, if short, was of a strcnuousness comparable "to that the O.T.C. men get in the hustling days of modern war—half-days of lectures on Acts of Parliament and their bearing on the work of tho police, and practical work attendance at child, ron's and other Courts. Jfer first experience on duty in tho Strand was to rescue a colonial soldier, and very tactfully it. was accomplished. The gallant warrior plainly had had a. rosy time. He asked the way to a hotel, and, as it proved to be near by, the woman policeman thought she would seo that lie did get safely home, lest worso happen. And then—topsey-turveyism of war—he invited hev to go for a walk. Cook, we know, does ''make a date - ' on occasion with the. policeman on her beat, but this was a variation of the theme. However, a " real" policemnn hove in sight, find the woman policeman advised the gallant t« effect a strategic rotreat into his bote', before the full majesty of law and order arrived. Law and order might not take so lenient, a view of his condition as she did ! One can believe, then that, in the words of their chief, they must hav» physical and moral courage, 'endurance, tact and discretion. Given these, the training is simple, and success as a patrol is assured. But the woman patrol must have tact in dealing with situations in such place's as Hyde* Park and Leicester Square, and sympathy as well. Besides fhe-e qualities, the authorities liko candidates to have seme nreviou? experience, of work among ijirls, good health, of course, and leisure to give not less than two hours at. at time to the work. Patrols are drawn from many classes of women, and the. number oi' unsuccessful aspirants is negli-

giblr, A woman pat-re] has to be prepared for everything. Th° work is not o-l' befriending foolish girls and saving tlvnn from the dangers that lurk in parks and streets, warning girls who behave unsuitably or trying to intervene between young soldiers and women of evil roputa.tions. Sometimes it i:. difficult, requiring courage. A constable lr;t.=ly would have been badly knocked -about but for the help of two women patrols who aided him in subduing and arresting a man, getting somewhat knocked about themselves in the scrimmage. Every woman patrol ha.s her card from the. chief of polioe. in her district, calling on the police force to give her any assistance required. In places like Hyde Park and Leicester Square, the inspectors say the difference these women have made is quite remarka.ble. Young girls ha.ve. been persuaded to leave the danger zone, and many a young man has boien saved from falling into the bands of harpies.