WOMEN POLICE.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 268, 18 October 1917, Page 10

WOMEN POLICE.

COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO M.P’s. 26, Tut Street, Fcndalton, Christchurch, July 12, 1917. Dear Sir, — I am directed by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union of New Zealand to ask that you will be good enough to support the demand that is now being made for the employment of women police. As there is some misapprehension regarding the nature of the duties these women would be required to perform, I beg to call your attention to the accompanying circular in which are set forth the main duties required of women police in countries where they arc now employed.—l am, yours faithfully, C. HENDERSON, Corres. Secretary, N.Z. Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

DUTIES OF WOMEN POLICE. Where women police are already employed their duties are of the following nature: — (t) To keep young children from the streets, especially at night. (In South Australia they see that children under 14 years of age, unless in charge of an adult, are off the streets at 8.30 p.m.) (2) To patrol the railway stations and wharves when long distance trains and steamers tonic in, in order to guard and advise women, girls and children, who are strangers, and have no friends awaiting them. (3) To patrol parks and other pleasure resorts in order to protect women and girls. If they find it necessary to warn a girl, they should endeavour to visit her home, and see that her relatives are warned of her danger.) (4) To keep an eye on houses of illfame, and on hotels fnquented by women of the town, in order to prevent young girls from being entrapped. (5) To attend Court in cases where offences against women and children arc being dealt with. (6) To conduct investigations and interrogations in cases of criminal offences against women arid children. (7) To conduct investigations in cases of juvenile delinquency. (8) To inspect common lodginghouses and apartment houses. The work of the women police should be largely of a “preventive nature.”