The Overworked Force"
Sul,—I have read Sir Carleton Allen's recent article on The Over- worked Force with great interest. He admits that he is unable to solve the problem of bringing the Police Force up to full strength. The reasons tor the deficiency are many and various, but there is one which he does not mention—a feeling of frustration in the lower ranks of the Force. Not long ago a letter was published in the Daily Telegraph, signed "Ex-Inspector of Police." The writer stated that, after working his way in practical detective employment, he found that further promotion was " blocked " by the fact that all the higher and better-paid posts were held by .retired Army Officers. He pointed out that in the Army there was nothing to prevent a private reaching the highest rank, and instanced Field-Marshal Sir William Robertson, who started his military career as a " ranker " and served with great distinction in the First World War; and there were many other instances
of privates eventually reaching responsible commands. He argued that, if this is possible in the Army, why not in the Police Force ? Under the present system the retired officer has no first-hand know- ledge of detective-work, and has to get all his information from the very men whom he is superseding—a somewhat paradoxical result !
Whether anything can be done about this I do not know, but I am sure that, if we are to get a contented Police Force, there must be nothing to prevent a constable reaching the well-paid posts if he earns them on his merits.—Yours faithfully,
33 Selborne Road, Hove.
ARNOLD C. TAYLOR.
Previous page
