Hotheaded Bobbies

In the midst of disarmament arguments and foreign exchange battles the British Cabinet was suddenly summoned to an emergency meeting in Downing Street last week. Reporters rushed over with their coattails flying. Was the National Government in danger? It was not. but the cause of the meeting was almost as vital. Hugh Montague Trenchard, Baron Trenchard of Wolfeton. had just published a report after 18 months in office as Commissioner of Metropolitan Police. Over four years ago the British public was startled to learn that the placid British bobby--historically the calmest of constables--was not immune to bribery and graft. There were nasty disclosures about protection from raids granted night-club owners. Viscount Byng of Vimy was drafted as Commissioner to reform the force. Eighteen months ago Lord Trenchard, a cannon-voiced officer known as ''Boom" to the Royal Air Force, succeeded Byng. Last week's report announced that things were still bad with the bobbies. There were only 23 murders in London (New York had over 400 in 1932) and in 13 cases the murderers saved the police trouble by committing suicide: but on the other hand there were 13,800 burglaries, 86% of which remained unsolved. Police morale was bad. Constables' pay was reduced from a basic rate of $17.50 per week to $13.75: sergeants were re- duced from $25 & $30 to $23; inspectors from $31.50 & $49 to $29.50 as part of last year's economy budget. Lord Trenchard discovered that the Police Federation, an organization of policemen covering all Britain, was ''deliberately fomenting discontent against the government." The Cabinet meeting hurriedly prepared a bill to "curb hotheads among the police." The 86% of unsolved burglaries was a black-eye to Scotland Yard's reputation. Lord Trenchard made three suggestions: removal of the rule providing that higher police officers must first pass through the ranks; greater insistence on the educational qualifications of candidates: establishment of a "police college" to train promising younger men on the force. ''It seems to me impossible.'' he wrote, "longer to shirk the problem of how to obtain a steady supply of the best brains from every available source.''

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