Cantonese including a small number of Eurasians and 124 Indians, and is relieved of all but strictly Police duties by a civilian staff of 738.
Training and Education
All ranks on engagement undergo a period of training at the Police Training School, six months in the case of locally recruited Inspectorate and three months in the case of the Rank & File. The syllabus includes law and Police duties, first aid, drill and weapon training, including the use of tear smoke. Concentrated refresher courses are held for N.C.O.'s and there is a special course of training for Marine Police including signalling and seamanship. A total of 1,044 men passed out of the school during the year.
All ranks are literate in their own language when recruited; Chinese is compulsory for non-Chinese and basic English is taught to Chinese at the Training School so that all recruits on passing out of the school have acquired at least a slight knowledge of the language. It is hoped shortly to provide facilities for post-graduate instruction in English for the Rank & File.
Traffic
During 1949 there has been a large increase in the number of vehicles in use on the 410 miles of roads in the Colony. In 1948 there were 11,757 vehicles, and in 1949 there were 14,551. These figures do not include Service vehicles which now number several thousand. The increase in numbers of both vehicles and pedestrians, and lack of adequate parking space has aggravated the traffic problem. In an attempt to improve the situation, one way systems have been put into operation with considerable success, and parking facilities have been extended almost to the limit. A 24 hour silent zone was introduced towards the end of the year in the centre of Victoria, and this has proved very beneficial. A number of regular pedestrians crossings were instituted at the same time.
The accident rate, not unnaturally in the circum- stances, has increased:
Fatal accidents
Serious accidents
Slight accidents
Developments
1948
1949
97
119
474
611
1,945
2,780
New developments during the year include the setting up of a much needed Forensic Laboratory, under a qualified forensic specialist, who has been appointed Police Surgeon after taking a course of forensic study at Glasgow and
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