POLICE ON BEAT DUTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16748, 15 March 1926, Page 8

POLICE ON BEAT DUTY.

REARRANGEMENT OF HOURS. COMMISSIONER'S EXPERIMENT. The Commissioner of Police (Mr YV. B. Mcltveney) has introduced on six months' trial a system by which all sergeants and constables doing beat duly will have a full 2i hours oIT duty three times a week, without in any way I increasing or decreasing tlie total i number of hours worked. Nor will it be necessary to increase the number of men. Prior lo Monday last the sergeants and men on beat duty worked from 5 a.m. until I rem., and the next shift from 1 p.m. until 'J .p.m., followed by another shift from U p.m. until ."> a.m. Each lot, of men remained on these shifts for a week and then changed round so that each had their turn at day and night duty. Under Ibis arrangement a man had one week in every three weeks when be was able lo attend a theatre or any social entertainment in the evening, and then lie would have to rise ! very early to be on duty at C> a.m. The longest period he would he off duly would be sixteen hours. Mr Mcllvcney has introduced an arrangement by which one shift will commence duly at 1 p.m. and finish at. 'J p.m. The same men will commence next morning at. u o'clock and linish at i p.m. Those men will not resume duly again until 1 p.m. on the following day. thus enabling them to have a full twenty-four hours off duly three days in every week. The same arrangement applies lo each shift. The scheme is on ils trial for six months, at the conclusion of which the sergeants are to furnish reports to I lie commissioner as to the success or otherwise of the innovation. The scheme provides a long-desired change. The commissioner has emphasised his wish that Ihe men shall maintain the utmost, efficiency, and he is determined that it shall nol be impaired in any way by the change he has introduced. The question or making suitable alterations In ttie uniforms of sergeants and constables is to be, reconsidered by the commissioner at an early date. New Zealand possesses extremes of climate, and Ihe uniform required for lb'' more temperate , climate of Ihe southern districts of Ihe South Island is quile unsuitable for Ihe sub-tropical conditions or the northern districts of the North Island.