LONDON’S WOMEN POLICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19842, 10 January 1920, Page 8

LONDON’S WOMEN POLICE.

DRAMA OF LIFE IN THE STREET. " Fall in!” The order comes, not as a brusque, gruif command, but a>3 an appeal, and twenty women answer it, marching into “P? _ room with the swinging stride almosrt of a guardsman (says a London paper). They are part of London’s new army .IT 0 ®* 611 patrols—policewomen, the own . Ofd tlie appeal to Fall ml is the keynote of the new force. They march out into the streets to appeal and help. They break off into each take up their allotted patrol in the highways of the metropolis. where the lights glitter and where the shadows fall. ALONE IN LONDON. , the pair, who are on duty m London’s busiest traffic centre, Trafalgar Square. No sooner have they taken up their post than ai girl approaches. She desires lodgings, but is 100 shy_ “to ask a policeman,” and too suspicious to seek the advice elsewhere. But with a policewoman it is different. The girl tells all lieu- family and business confidences, and is given a list of that can lie recommended. This is a feature of the women patrols’ work, the importance of which is fully appreciated only by those with a knowledge of London and ifc s lures. Ino publio do not realise tlio rurtos that are set both by male and female vampires in the way of the friendless or stranded girL FROM THE COUNTRY. Here comes a girl until the evident bloom of the country on her cheeks. She has come to London to see the gold with which the streets are paved. Her money Is exhausted. She is too proud to tell her frienda of her failure. She is persuaded to consent to return home. Inquiries are made, the truth of the girl’s statement is verified, and her fare is paid back to the country which she loft to learn another of life’s disillusionments. Night has now set in, and the most difficult task of tlio policowonvnjx bogins. All hat tact ajid persuasive powers are needed in the work that lies before her. The uniform at first scares some of those they want to help, they feel they are outcasts, at war with law and forsaken by the World. But ajftejr a while the uniform Induces confidence it is recognised ns a sign, of friendly authority, and gentle persuasion gradually draws the story of the girl’s life, t'he agrees to accompany her guide whom she now knows to he a friend, to a hostel, suitable work is found, and one more heart rejoices again. THE NOTE BOOK. Every policewoman clinics a aotebook, and her interviews are sent next day to her sergeant, who in turn for-w-ards them to Mrs Stanley, head of the patrols, at Scotland Yard. They are treated as confidential. No one hut Mrs Stanley examines the secrets they reveal.