tal Annual Report we read that 'Arrangements have now been defi- nitely made to alter the uniform to one of a more modern pattern.' The inclusion of the word 'definitely' suggests that this was a thorny issue and the change in the style of uniform had not met with universal ap- proval from all members of the Committee.
The policy of having a police officer seconded to supervise the uniformed branch of the Force had been short-lived and the Annual report of 1926 deplored the lack of a police officer for this duty. It appears that in future years the police officer seconded to oversee the detective force was also expected to act as liaison officer between the Police and the entire District Watch Force. In November 1927 the con- trol of the detective branch of the Force was taken over by sub-Inspec- tor Kenneth Andrew who, like his predecessors, spoke fluent Cantonese and continued to be associated with the Force until June 1936. By the mid-1920s the number of men serving in the District Watch Force had reached 122 and their success in bringing cases to the Police Court continued to rise. In the years between the establishment of the District Watch Committee and the mid-1920s the number of arrests/convic- tions never exceeded 415 but we can see how this figure increased dramatically during the fifteen year period 1925-1937.
Arrests by District Watchmen 1925-1939
year
arrests
1,084
1,274
1,236
1,322
1,546
2,067
1,214
1,228
218
tal Annual Report we read that 'Arrangements have now been defi- nitely made to alter the uniform to one of a more modern pattern.' The inclusion of the word 'definitely' suggests that this was a thorny issue and the change in the style of uniform had not met with universal ap- proval from all members of the Committee.
The policy of having a police officer seconded to supervise the uniformed branch of the Force had been short-lived and the Annual report of 1926 deplored the lack of a police officer for this duty. It appears that in future years the police officer seconded to oversee the detective force was also expected to act as liaison officer between the Police and the entire District Watch Force. In November 1927 the con- trol of the detective branch of the Force was taken over by sub-Inspec- tor Kenneth Andrew who, like his predecessors, spoke fluent Cantonese and continued to be associated with the Force until June 1936. By the mid-1920s the number of men serving in the District Watch Force had reached 122 and their success in bringing cases to the Police Court continued to rise. In the years between the establishment of the District Watch Committee and the mid-1920s the number of arrests/convic- tions never exceeded 415 but we can see how this figure increased dramatically during the fifteen year period 1925-1937.
Arrests by District Watchmen 1925-1939
year
arrests
1925
371
1926
467
1927
606
1928
848
1929
737
1930
845
1931
867
1932
1,084
1933
1,274
1934
1,236
1935
1,322
1936
1,546
3937
2,067
1938
1,214
1939
1,228
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