67. The combined Force has attained a high standard of efficiency and provides an essential increment of strength in times of emergency.
VILLAGE GUARDS
68. A very valuable adjunct to the Force in the rural areas are the village guards. These are selected and appointed by their own village councils, operate in and around their own villages, and serve as a very useful link between village communities and the police.
UNIFORM BRANCH PROBLEMS
69. It would be impossible in the space available in an Annual Report to describe fully the problems which confront the Uniform Branch. Amongst these, remarkable in magnitude rather than kind, are:
Hawkers
70. Hawkers have posed a daily problem for the police for almost as long as the Colony has been in existence. On the one hand the police have a duty to maintain the streets free from obstructions to pedestrians and traffic, while on the other hand there are many thousands of poor people trying to make an honest living on the same streets whom the police do not wish to drive out of business and perhaps turn towards crime.
71. There is no easy solution to the problem. However, the Report on Hawkers with Policy Recommendations issued by the Urban Council in December 1957 after extensive research and experiment by the Urban Services Department and the police provides a realistic approach towards more tolerable conditions. But the task of implementing the recommendations will be laborious and will take a long time.
Street Nuisances
72. These include mendicants, touts and shoeblacks. While there are those who would sooner beg than accept work or relief, and for whom a period in gaol is no deterrent, the problem of mendicancy remains unsolved. Police action is designed to restrain and has met with more success than might be thought possible in the circumstances.
73. Touts have concentrated their activities primarily against tourists and in particular on American servicemen. They are employed by bars, restaurants and shops to solicit custom and have been so persistent in their efforts that they have created annoyance and obstruction on numerous occasions. Police action to curb this nuisance. has only been partially effective since many who would otherwise be
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