Police-1965-1966 — Page 49

incidents reported by the public, or to deal with incidents encoun- tered, and are available to assist beat officers. In addition to providing prisoner and cash escorts the units are also a reserve which can be called upon at all times to deal with unexpected disasters or disorders.

175. On 14th February, 1966, a Chinese platoon was added to the strength of the Emergency Unit, New Territories. Due to casualties over the years the Pakistani Unit was unable to form a full company and consequently it was supplemented with one Chinese Platoon. The members of the platoon are taken from the divisions in the New Territories District for a period of two months and are usually men who have already attended the Police Training Contingent.

WOMEN POLICE

176. The establishment of the Women Police Branch is now 427, all ranks. Miss A. H. CALDERWOOD on secondment from the Glasgow City Police Force, has recently taken up the post of Senior Inspector.

177. The Women Police have continued to perform their various duties in a very satisfactory and cheerful manner and have proved themselves most efficient in various aspects of work, particularly in crowd control. This has been well illustrated on many occasions, the most successful being the Schools Rally held at the Government Stadium during the Royal Visit in March 1966. The Women Police Contingent was responsible for transporting 6,500 school children across the harbour and marshalling them into the Government Stadium and simultaneously escorting 20,000 children from Hong Kong Island Schools from their assembly point on the Island to the Stadium. Over and above this the Women Police performed crowd control duties along- side their male counterparts during the whole period of the Royal Visit.

178. In addition to their normal duties a number of Women Police Constables attached to the Traffic Branch were given instruction in riding motor scooters, to enable them to cover greater areas more effectively. Women Police attached to this Branch have played an im- portant role in speed checking of motor vehicles, and detecting cases of careless driving.

179. The work of the Women Police in Divisions continues on a similar pattern to previous years and includes the arresting of pros- titutes and mendicants, and the detection of traffic offences, as well as patrol and school crossing duties.

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