Those Outstanding Men
| Published date | 01 July 1964 |
| Date | 01 July 1964 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X6403700717 |
| Subject Matter | Correspondence |
TEENAGERS AND
D~NG
Aparagraph in the Canadian Police Gazette states
that
in the opinion of one
of their detective sergeants, drinking is leading more and more juveniles into
crime. Almost half the number of thefts in the city of Vancouver are carried out
by juveniles or minors, who steal to get money for beer or liquor, he claims.
Aprobe on drinking among high school students was ordered by a juvenile
court Judge who intends calling meetings of juvenile, probation, schools and
police officials to study the problem.
THOSE
OUTSTANDING
MEN
To the Editor
of
THE
POLICE
JOURNAL
Dear
Sir,
I do think that by keeping this sub-
ject open you will do the Police
Service a great deal of good. Such
articles as that of the chief constable of
Oxford on
"Educational
Standards
for
Recruiting"
and
that
of Inspector
Byrne on the subject heading, which
you have published will long be remem-
bered, but so will the letters from D. C.
Parkes,
"Hove
P.C. "
and"
Jayem ".
It
is all the more pleasing that you
should publish these letters because one
can evaluate the present faults and
feelings which became known to us. I
think we all agree that faults are
present and systems can be changed to
keep up with progress. Feeling may
run close to discontent
ifnot
considered
and it will certainly arise to discontent
if present members of the Police Service
are not considered before outsiders.
I take it that my other colleagues
from Devon and Hove have passed the
required examinations. I sat for the
first of the civil service examinations.
The only thing I failed in, by a few
marks, was
"Local
Government".
The same year by studying at night
school I passed G.C.E. at A level in
"British
Constitution".
Is the civil
service examination of a higher stan-
dard, Iwonder?
Like"
Hove
P.C."
and
"Tayem
" I appear to be "edu-
cated"
for I have other educational
qualifications from school (college)
days and since.
If
the civil service
examination is of a higher standard I
would appreciate two or three hours
351
once or twice a week in a lecture room
because I can pass an examination
given such a chance but I cannot when
I retire to a room at home soon to be
told by my wife that
"the
iron has
fused" or some such thing.
On the table with me now I have, the
Betting and Gaming Act, 1960; the
Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act,
1963; the Road Traffic Act,1960; the
Road
Traffic Act, 1962; the Licensing
to mention only a few. On p, 8 in The
War against Crime in England and
Wales 1959-1964, one reads that the
Standing Committee on Criminal Law
Revision
"is
completing its work on
the law of
larceny".
You need out-
standing men to keep pace with the
legislation which is constantly being
brought into force. You need a small
allowance, too, to buy the texts with
which to do so.
What is an outstanding
man?
One
with common sense, a fair mind in
judgment, unhurried in times of
panic? One with a desire to serve the
public? One with intellect and good
upbringing and one that attempts to
remain up to date with recent legis-
lation? They are at present serving.
Mr. Parkes, the constable from Hove,
" Jayem " and myself have every
reason to feel insulted if the service
decides to look elsewhere and so have
many of our colleagues.
Yours faithfully,
COSTARD
July 1964
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