THE POLICE FORCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17672, 23 September 1919, Page 5

THE POLICE FORCE

NEW REGULATIONS.

DUTIES OF DIFFERENT RANKS

The regulations under the Polict Force Act, are published in this week's Gazette. They contain many new and important conditions, and are very comprehensive. The relative status of members of

the detective branch and the uni-

form 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 are of equal rank, as are constables and detectives.

Provision is made for the interchange of members of the force frond; one branch of the service to a cor-; responding rank in the other. ,

The general duties of commissioned officers have been somewhat elst® borated, but no substantial changes have been .made.

The duties of sectional. sergeants have been set out in considerable detail as compared with, former regulations. ■"

Several ne.w regulations relate toaccidents iii'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 for repealing the provision requiring a constable to serve four' years before he 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 be given to complaints for representations from members of the Force, but combination shall be severely dealt with as, being subversive 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. Anymeeting 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 oi this regulation-" " Another important new regulation [provides that the police are not to institute H prosecutions^ for perjury, whether in civil or criminal cases, except by direction of the Court iii which perjury takes place, or, in default of such direction, with the permission oosf s the Attorney-General. When perjury is alleged to have been committed in criminal cases instituted by the police it is the duty, of the 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 the 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, if favourable reported upon by the officer in charge of the district, they may be further employed pn 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 ii; their work gives satisfaction they may after the expiry of that time be appointed detectives.

A new regulaion deals with the appointment and employment of district and Native constables.

Provisions respecting the attendance of police at fires, which did notappear in the late regulations, have oeen restored.

The hours of duty which were formerly fixed by regulation are now to be fixed.by the Commissioner.

It is provided that members 6f 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 wfth promotions, it is provided that the Commissioner may accelerate the increments of the pay of any member of theForce who has shown special aptitude and consistent zeal in the performance of his duties, without affecting his position in the seniority list, provided that any promotion or advancement made without regard to seniority shall be specially gazetted. Seniority lists will be kept at headquarters < in which officers and otner members' of the Force will be shown according to their standing in their. respective ranks. Any member of the Force may sit for the examination qualifying for the rank of sub-inspec-tor, and if he passes such examination he will be deemed to have passed the examinations necessary to qualify for the ranks of sergeant and senior sergeant.

Officers of the Force on retirement may be permitted to retain their rank and wear the prescribd uniform of such rank on official or public occasions; the letter "ft" to be placed on the shoulder-cords or on the 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.