THE POLICE FORCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 304, 19 September 1919, Page 7

THE POLICE FORCE

NEW REGULATIONS

DUTIES OF DIFFERENT RANKS

Tho regulations under tho Police 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 uniform 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 and detective sergeants are of equal rank, as are constables and de'tectives. Provision is made for the interchange of members of the force from one branch of the service to a corresponding rank in the other.' The general duties of commissioned officers have been somewhat elaborated, but no substantial changes have been made. The duties of sectional sergeants have been set out in considerable delail as compared with former regulations. Several new regulations relate to accidents in 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 bv 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 em : ployed on clerical duty shall lie promoted to commissioned rank until lie has served at least two years 'as senior sergeant outside the district office. . An important regulation is No. 172, which provide.*: "Every reasonable consideration shall be giv.n to complaints or representations from members of the Force, but combination-., shall be severely dealt with as being subversive of discipline: Provided, howeyer, that nothing in this regulation shall be held to prohibit members of the Force from becoming members of tiie Public Service Association of New Zealand. Any meeting 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 of this regulation."

Another important new regulation provides that the polico are not to institute prosecutions for perjury, whether in civil or criminal cases, except by direction of the Court in which perjury takes place, or, in default of such direction, with the permission of 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 1 to obtaining the consent of the Attorney-General to a prosecution.

Among new regulations respecting the detective branch is onR providing that as vacancies occur constables of exemplary conduct who have two years' service anil who appear to have the prescribed qualifications for detectives will be detailed for duty under a senior defective, on probation for six months. After that time, if favourably reported upon by the officer in charge of the district, they may be further employed on detective duties- under the name uf "acting-detectives." As such they will continue duty under a senior detective for a period of two years, and if their work gives satisfaction they may after the expiry of that time be appointed detectives,

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

Provisions respecting the attendance of polico at fires, which did not appear in the late regulations, have been restored. The hours of duty which were formerly fixed by regulation are now to be fixed by the Commissioner. '

It is provided that members of 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 with promotions it is provided that the Commissioner may accolerato the Vicrenients of the pay of any member of tho For&o who lias shown special aptitude, and consistent zeal, in the performance of his duties 'without affecting his position in' the s niority list, provided that any'promotion or advancement . made without regard lo seniority shall be specially gazetted. Seniority lists will be kept' at headquarters, in wlijeh officers and other members of the Force will lie shown according to their .standing in their respective ranks. Any member of the Force may sit for tho examination qualifying for the rank of sub-inspector, and if he passes such examination ho will be deemed to have passed the examinations necessary to qualify for the rank* of sergeant and senior sergeant. Officers of tho Force on retirement may be permitted -x> retc.in their rank and wear the prescribed uniform of such rank on official or public occasions; the letter "R" to be placed on the shoulder-cords or on the fihoulder-straps below the badges of rank. Inspectors and fiubinspectors on retiring after completing 15 years' service ns officers may i- ceivc a step of honorary rank n,s a'reward for good and effic,ient fervice.