The Argus at KellyGang 7/4/1883 (5)
ROYAL COMMISSION
VI – INSTRUCTION IN DRILL
Final Report - continued
The police authorities for many years appear to have acted on the principle that a constable is born, not made. Such was the infatuation that prevailed in this respect that during the Kelly pursuit men were sent up to do duty in the north-eastern district without any knowledge of the use of the firearms with which they were entrusted. Even at the present time a foot constable is not supposed to undergo any preparatory training for the proper discharge of his duties. This neglect of training seems to have arisen from a desire to avoid imparting a military character to the force. Section 336 of the regulations declares that "as the police force is not a military but a civil force, all unnecessary military parade and show, as well as the frequent and unnecessary parade of fire- arms and other weapons, is to be avoided." The police are no doubt intended as a civil force, and in a peaceful and law- abiding community like that of Victoria they are seldom called on to act in large bodies when military discipline and tactics are called into play, but experience has demonstrated the danger of so demilitarising the police as to render them comparatively valueless for other than patrol or beat duty. There can be no question of the necessity and utility of recruits being properly instructed, not only in all matters appertaining to the routine duties of constables, but, to a certain extent, in a practical knowledge of the use of firearms. The London metropolitan police is essentially a civil body, nevertheless it is laid down in Mr. Vincent's code that "all candidates for enrolment in the police force or the preparatory class are instructed in elementary drill, as well as constables and sergeants prior to promotion. This is absolutely necessary, as, without some practice in drill, bodies of men cannot possibly move with that precision which enables them to cope with a mob superior in numbers."
In the same excellent work it is stated that "before any constable is allowed to do duty, superintendents shall take care that he is thoroughly instructed in the requirements of the law and the regulations of the service, that no neglect or mistake may be caused by ignorance." The Irish Constabulary Code indicates "that it is required of every officer and member of the force to be perfectly acquainted with the exercise and movements of a company, as laid down the revised book of drill ;" while, as regards instruction in duties, a regular school for that purpose is established at the depôt in Phoenix park. In any re-organisation of the present police in Victoria , too much importance cannot be attached to the training and better instruction of recruits for police duties.
VII – PROMOTION
The majority of the witnesses examined appeared to be severely exercised in their minds upon the subject of promotion. In no other direction, it is considered, has the Victorian police system so signally failed. The regulations on the subject are explicit, but they have been to a great extent ignored. According to Section 264, seniority is the rule of promotion:- "All vacancies in the grades above that of constable and up to and including that of Superintendent, are filled up by promotion from the next inferior grade."
The next section contains a qualification to this general averment, as it admonishes aspirants "that seniority, good conduct and length of service are not the sole recommendations for promotion for, although those qualifications will have their weight, "efficiency and adaptation for the particular vacancy will be the principal considerations." It is manifest that if this principle were undeviatingly observed in all appointments in the force, the public and the members of the force would have no just cause to complain. The evidence leads to the conclusion that the course here prescribed has not of late years been pursued. The regulations of the London metropolitan police respecting promoting are almost identical with those of this colony except in one vital particular, namely, that candidates shall pass an educational test examination of a standard suitable to officials who are daily called upon to discharge important duties, those often affecting the lives, liberties, and property of citizens. The general principle adopted in relation to promotion in the Irish police is that, "while due regard will always be paid to long servitude and respectability of conduct, the efficiency of the service requires something more than this in making selections for promotion, and that a preference must always be given to those who have manifested superior intelligence, zeal and alacrity in the discharge of their duties." The members of the force are therefore given distinctly to understand that "there will be no hesitation in selecting the meritorious and efficient for promotion, however low down on the seniority list it may become necessary to descend for that purpose." With this object, two lists are prepared in the inspector general's office, a seniority list and a special list. In the former the names of the officers and men are placed according to their standing in the force, in the latter are placed the names of those who have distinguished themselves. For every grade there is a special examination by a board of superior officers appointed for that purpose. The advantage of such a system is self-evident. The chief commissioner thinks that every man before he becomes eligible for promotion should pass an educational test, and from amongst those who have passed the officers should be chosen. He would "regulate promotion by seniority, education, efficiency, and general fitness. Examinations would narrow down the circle to younger and better-educated men. "Mr Moors, chief clerk of the Police department, "would like to get rid entirely of the idea that mere seniority should give a man promotion Good conduct should be a sine qua non, and there should be an educational test as well as general efficiency. A man may be an excellent constable, and yet be utterly unfit for anything higher. At present a young man may join the force full of energy, well educated, and ambitious to rise. He may have in him all the qualifications for an officer, but the prospect before him is hopeless. He may, after many years, become a senior constable, after a longer period be appointed sergeant, and by the time he reaches the grade of an officer he has lost all his enthusiasm and a great deal of his energy. What is wanted is some method which would allow of all the young, active, and in all respects efficient men being selected and rapidly pushed forward into positions for which nature appears to have qualified them." If efficiency, education, good conduct and seniority went together, there would be no difficulty in obtaining good officers, provided an examination interposed at every stage. Your commissioners agree with the opinion expressed that (question 618) "there should be an examination once a year open to all constables , simple as regards the literary part – to write good English and a fair hand, and to perform a simple arithmetical computation ; an examination of two or three acts of Parliament, and how constables under certain circumstances calling for the exercise of their powers would act, the examination to be conducted in the same manner as those in connexion with the University." The examination for officers of the higher grades should be more strict and comprehensive.
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