LONDON'S NEW POLICE FORCE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 52, 25 November 1919, Page 7

LONDON'S NEW POLICE FORCE

A CORPS D'ELITE

BEST TYPE OF RECRUIT

(From tho "Morning Post,") For tlio ordi.iiry citizen it is ditlicult, if not impossible, to realise the- change which lias taken placo in tlio Metropolitan Police Force sinco General Sir iSevil Macready was appointed as commissioner, T'he general,, let it be said, mado no small sacrifice when ho left his post of adjutant-general last year to tako up the task of reorganising tho police, following on tho foolish strike of 191 S. Sir ( Nevil accomplished brilliant work as an organiser during the war. JLn tho critical days of March, 1918, w'hen the German menace to tho Channel ports was so great, ill fell to his lot to prepare—and to preparo swiftly—the plans, which, had .tho enemy succeeded in his effort, would have boon imperative to securo tilio retreat of the British forces. Called upon by tho Cabinet to meet tho difficult situation caused by what was a cleverly contrived mutiny of t'he policc—engineered, it is now known by men who were acting, knowingly, or in ignorance, as enemy agents—Sir Nevil was not less successful, and ho has already effected a transformation in the police force, alike as regards pay, conditions of service, class of men engaged, and status. At tllie clo;e of tlio war, the metropolitan police wpro understaffed. Thousands of the younger men had joined the Army on the outbreak of hostilities, and ib was necessary to extend the services of older men entitled to retire on ponsion. Taking into account tho number of the latter, who will be relieved as quickly as possible by younger men, tho forco al) present is 3000 under establishment. Aspects of Recruiting. Under tho new regime, in the inauguration of whioh notable assistance has been given by Mr. Shortt, the Homo Secretary, it lias become possible to establish a corps d'elite. Recruiting is going on steadily, but it will be two years 'before the ranks are filled. Several days in each week the rooms in tho basement of Scotland Yard, devoted to tho -use of Mr. Gardiner and Colonel Thesiger, who are in chargo of recruiting, aio thronged with hundreds of fine, upstßnding, stalwart young men. Nearly all have been in tho Navy or Army, of course, but they have to undergo a strict medical examination despite this, and those who have the duty of recruiting the Force keep a keen eye on men who are likely to develop into first-class athletes. Some of the men who hayo come back to tho Force from active service show what Army training can do. Oiie record shows two eton'o added to the weight, and a chest development of over two inches, all muscle.

Formerly the best police recruits, from a physical point of view, enmo from the country. Now? thanks to the war, they come from London itself. These demobilised men who joined the Army in 1914., weedy townsmen, have become fine specimens of manhood. But it is not only in that respect that the force is changing its character. It now contains a largo number of mon who have held commissions in the Navy and Army, of Publio School and University men.

Mon Who Won War Distinctions. The appended list, not quite complete, of the decorations and awards of men actually serving to-day in tho Force, will bo a revelation of tho tyjw of men Sir Nevil Macready is recruiting: Old New Polico Ee- . Officers, cruita. Victoria Cross — 1 , Conspicuous Gallantry Medal 1 — Military Cross 7. i Distinguished Conduct Modal 31 22 Distinguished Service Medal 7 — Military Medal 64 93 Meritorious Sorvice Medal... 36 10 Members' Victorian Order ... 9 — Medal—Order of the British Empire s v 1 — French Mednille Militairo ... 2 2 French Marine Modal 1 — Medaillo d'Honneur of France 2 — French Croix de Guerre 9 6 Belgian Croix do Guorre i 3 Belgian Medaille Militaire... — 1 Cavalier of Order of Crown of Italy 1 — Medal of King of Serbia ... 1 — Medal of King of Montenegro 1 — Italian Bronze Medal — 2 Greek Military Cross — 1 Cross of St. George and Order of St. Stanislaus of Russia 1 — 178 115 Total 323 Mentioned in Dispatches ... ii 10 Commended by G'O.C 3 — Conduct Commended 10 —

Commissioned Officers in the Ranks, There are in tho Force 93 members who luive won commissions in the war, and since hostilities ceased, 14 commissioned officers have joined the ranks and a?e doing duty, oil tho Metropolitan streets. A former constable is now serving in the Army as a brigadier-general. A young flying officer, 011 leaving tho Army, had it suggested to him that he might become a policeman. The alternative was a chauffeur's job at £2 10s. per week. As a policeman ho would Teceive practically r£l a week, could have quarters and messing for 30s. a week, leaving him with £2 10s. pocket money. But ho did not fancy the dark blue coat! There is also promotion, rising to a superintendontship at over .£7OO n year, with command of what is in numbers a battalion. Thirtysix of these commands are onon to the aspiring recruit. Tho Eagle Hut in the Strand is now a gaining centre for police under Superintendent Parsons, and the recruits have exceptionally good quarters, with messroo-nis, canteens, lectuvorooms, billiard-rooms, and the rest. There is no lack of recruits, but the standard fixed is high, and the proportion of rejections correspondingly so.