Observation
| Date | 01 July 1940 |
| Published date | 01 July 1940 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X4001300314 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Observation
AS
we are all aware, one of the very first things a policeman
has drilled into him is the importance of developing his
powers of observation.
Far
too many of us regard this as quite
unnecessary; we are content to let other people do the thinking
and observing for
us;
consequently we get left behind, missing
all the plums and half the fun of life.
Promotion in any walk of life depends on the individual's
ability to develop his senses plus a little extra.
In
the Police
Service that little extra is observation; and whether a man is
stationed in the largest city or the smallest village matters not
at all: he can develop his powers of observation anywhere if he
is determined to climb.
Here is a true story that points the moral; it happened
several years ago and fortunately I was only a listener.
It
was
a Chief Constable's inspection, and I was standing next in the
ranks to the unlucky constable to whom the C.C.'s remarks
were addressed.
The
examination ran something like this:
"What time were you on traffic control this morning ? "
(Smartly) "Nine a.m, to
ten
a.m., sir."
"What was the weather like during that hour: was it
dull?
sunny?
raining?
cloudy?"
(A pause. Then)"
It
was fine,
sir-that
is all I remember."
"
The
lady who came over to you, how was she dressed? "
(Long pause)
"Well,
sir-(pause)-I
don't know, sir.
Probably I was too busy with the traffic to notice."
Said the C.C. very quietly, " You had no traffic on your
hands
just
then. I was sitting in my car at the time.
Don't
you think it would be a wise plan to develop your powers of
observation? "
The
C.C. passed on, leaving a very uncomfortable
constable.
This
incident has always stuck in my memory, and it gave
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