MADAME THE "BOBBY.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19833, 27 December 1919, Page 2

MADAME THE "BOBBY.”

LONDON’S POLICEWOMEN. The other day (writes Olga Raester in the “Daily Mail”) I was taking my way home through the rural beauty of Kensington Gardens, and as I walked along those pleasant grassy paths a verse of a little song kept recurring in my mind. It was a vulgar little ditty, in vogue thirty years or more ago having for its central theme the last man upon earth, pursued by the woman-ridden world. He ran the gauntlet of female officialdom and came to the woman policeman, who exclaimed ; "Marry me, duckie, or I’ll run you in.” Tho fragment reiterated its silly words in my ears and then mischievously brought me face to face with two women policemen who immediately commanded attention and admirationTheir grave and courteous ways at once contradicted the foolish words of the song that had haunted me. They stood there in the familiar "Hobby’s’’ blue, with smart helmets shading their faces, well-cut coats and skirts, serviceable boots, silver buttons, silver whistle, striped duty bands on cuff, aud " M.P.” (Metropolitan Police) with a number upon their collars. They wore the very epitome of dignity and trustworthiness. '' We have the sanction of the Horae Office to work as part of tho police force,” Mrs Stanley, the superintendent of the force, told me. "Wo belong to the regular force, but- in no, way do we take the place of the men.” Mrs Stanley is the first woman to hold the rank of superintendent. She has watched over tnc growth of the. policewomen for live years, and is heart and soul in her work. Tho training of the policewoman is precisely the same as that of the policeman. First the applicant has to mi before a. selection board, and if she is considered suit able she enters Peel House, where she learns first aid and drill During hot training she is paid ■litis a. week, and if she wishes she has free quarters. If she passes the medical test and the second selection hoard she then goes into the. force aud docs her seven pours’ patrol. Her duties are specially concerned with women and children, and she acts as a. sort of intermediary for those who do rescue work. She has no powers o? arrest. But she watches and reports, and sometimes it comes in her way to jump into tho river and save a child, or to rescue a. woman from the flames of a motor-car on fireThe greater number of tho women now’ in the force have served in various tvomen’s auxiliary forces during the war. Outside of these airs Stanley says- that si«ne of the best women police are hospital muses. J he last low days have been particularly pleasant for the policewoman, for she has been signalled out for a now rate of pay. Jn the ranks she gels ( 18s a ■\veolc. with annual increments of 2s mounting to 58s. Sergeants get 60s a, week,_ With increments of 2s, going up to 70s a. week.