Evening star., 1909-03-06
Training of Policemen.

relation is a valuable one to both.
Training of Policemen.
London policemen are appointed by
competition. Any young man between
twenty-one and twenty-seven years of
age, who brings certificates of sober
habits" "honest character" good tenn
per- and respectable connections and as
sociates" from five householders who
have known him personally for five years.
may apply for appointment on the force.
He must stand clear five feet nine in
ches without shoes or stockings must
be free from bodily complaint: of strong
constitution; good muscular development.
and careful as to personal cleanliness.
He must also be generally intelligent,
read well. write legibly and have a fair
education.
Having complied with these conditions,
the applicant is sent to a school of in
struction where lie settles down for
course of training In a barracks. where
he receives his board and lodging free
Of cost, but no compensation. His life
there is similar to that of recruit In
the army. He spends three or four hours
a day in military drill. to smarter up his
appearance, to make him stand erect, to
develop his muscles, to teach him dlsci-
pline and how to work with others, when
help Is necessary. Three OF four hours
day are spent in the study of simple
scientific principles to develop his mind
and judgment and give him the mental
as we'll as the muscular training neces-
sary to qualify him for duty. Each sue
ceeding week the course of instruction is
advanced. and the candidate finally learns
something Of law and the penalties for
its violation. After a while he is as
signed to duty at police station or
police court where he comes in contact
with the public and the criminal classes.
and learns from the evidence submitted
to the magistrate how a competent con-
stable conducts himself.
The candidate is required to make re-
ports upon imaginary caseS and upon the
application of ordinary laws and ordi-
nances. For example, 1 have before me
circular prepared last fall by the commits
sioner of police and sent to the various
schools of instruction; / believe there are
twenty or thirty in the county or Lon
DON This circular requires candidates 10
prepare reports upon the laws and regu-
lations affecting the Licensing of and Of
fenses committed by peddlers and hawk
ers:" also Upon the powers and duties
Of the police under the vagrancy act ana
the proper treatment of offenders there
under" Report as many as you can OF
the offenses with which a constable can
deal under the highway act. What are
the powers Of the police under the various
acts of parliament, to prevent juvenile
yagrancy and depravity?" What would
you do in case lady is knocked down
and killed by motor ear, the driver OF
which makes OFF, You are called at
night into house from which thief
has apparently escaped with valuable
property What steps should be taken?'
1t must be understood that during the
three to six months which candidate
spends in the police school Of instruction
tors are dropped by the way for lack of
mental capacity or lack OF judgment or
for other reasons. l was told at Scotland
Yard last fall that in 1907 only 20 per
cent Of the applicants passed the ordeal
successfully and were appointed to the
force. Every possible thing that can be
devised is applied to test their tempers,
their patience, their Judgment and other
characteristics.
Text Book for the Police.
The textbook most carefully studied is
entitled Duty Hints for Constables ana
Section Sergeants." 1t is a compact, little
pocket volume of fifty pages, containing
a comprehensive epitome of information
Upon everything that a policeman ought
to know. 1t is arranged alphabetically,
like a dictionary, and the first page con-
tains instructions as to accidents, adver-
tisements, aliens, animals, areas. assaults.
etc The book contains the location of
every fire station. hospital, shelter for
homeless. every coroner. physician. ambu-
lance station, intirmary. etc, etc. and the
last three pages are filled with hints
to an officer on duty. He is admonished
never to lose his temper, to answer every
question civilly, never to argue with any
person. never to express an opinion unless
he is asked: to state all facts In favor of
as we'll as against an offender.
In this way are the policemen of London
educated. and when they join the force
they expect to stay with it for life. The
pay is absurdly small. beginning at 30
shillngs or $50 week, in round num-
bers, with an increase every six months
until a total of ~ shillngs or SEQ :.
week is reached. y serseants pay begins