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PUBLIC ORDER
sometimes themselves the target for attacks by bomb throwers. A number of bombs were also thrown into police station com- pounds.
When the disturbances started the force was fully mobilized in its emergency formation and remained so, without a break, for extensive periods during the summer, often under conditions of considerable discomfort.
The emergency formation is patterned on the military company and platoon structure. All units are provided with transport and served by a comprehensive communications network. Although units are equipped with firearms, reliance is placed, in the first instance, on the use of gas for dispersing crowds if exhortation fails.
A heartening aspect of the year has been public support for the police which was expressed by the establishment by local citizens of a Police Education Fund for the children of police officers. Contributions came freely and generously from all sections of the public. At the end of the year a total of $3.7 million had been receiv- ed. The main purpose of the fund is to award grants to children of police officers for post primary education up to, and including, university level. A public fund was set up by the General Chamber of Commerce to assist victims of terrorist activities and their dependents and the government established a compensation board with similar objectives. Dependents of police officers killed in the disturbances received more than $400,000 from these sources.
It is significant that during the year there has been an increase in the number of young men applying to serve in the force.
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The force has been supported by units of the regular army and the auxiliary services in its operations. The Auxiliary Police Force, which is on a voluntary basis, mobilized some 2,000 men out of a total strength of 2,100 in the early days of the disturbances. It has subsequently provided approximately 500 men each day to augment the regular force.
The auxiliaries are fully integrated with the regular land and marine formations and have shared to the full the burden of the day. Since May no less than 1,500 residents have applied to join