Feb. 10.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 513

have no power to enforce the attendance of such witnesses or to pay expenses that may be incurred; nor ought they to be removed from their Police duties for the purpose of tracing and bringing into Court witnesses who have disappeared or who may be indifferent or unwilling to appear.

385. Any prisoner may be searched at any time or place if it is suspected that he has upon his person any deadly weapon or any article which has been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

386. Persons suspected of making, uttering, or having in their possession counterfeit coin should be searched immediately at the place where taken into custody, when the circumstances admit of it being done. If the search cannot then be made, precautions are to be taken to prevent the prisoners from getting rid of base coin or other evidence of guilt before being brought to the barracks, and when they are brought to the barracks they are to be immediately searched.

387. Prisoners insensible from illness, drunkenness, or any other cause, or who are drunk and incapable of taking care of themselves, are to be searched, for safe custody of their property and its return to them. In taking possession of property for safe custody regard shall be had not merely to the value of the articles but to their capability of occasioning mischief or injury to the prisoners themselves or to others. For example, serious results have followed from drunken persons being left in possession of knives and matches.

388. A cell-door must be kept securely locked so long as a prisoner is confined in such cell. So also must the door be locked leading into the cell yard or passage.

389. The keys of all locks belonging to the lock-up premises must be kept by the watchhouse-keeper, who must open and close all cell and yard doors personally, and shall on no account allow any other person to do so.

390. Where a Matron is stationed she shall, however, have charge of the keys of that part of the lock-up set apart for the accommodation of female prisoners.

391. All blankets in use in a lock-up where prisoners are regularly confined must be washed at least once a month, but should any blankets be used by a dirty-looking prisoner, or one suspected of having vermin on him, they must be washed without delay. So also must blankets that are found wet or soiled after being in use in a cell overnight.

392. The cells, yards, urinals, closets, and lavatories must be kept as clean as possible, and disinfectants must be frequently used in them.

393. A Constable must never walk in front of his prisoner when entering or leaving a railway-carriage, cab, steamer, or building, or when passing through a gateway; he should always be close by his side or immediately behind him.

394. When prisoners are searched, the searching must be done so effectively that all instruments or articles of property which they ought not to retain may be taken from them.

395. When it is necessary to search a female prisoner this must only be done by another female.

396. A female mental defective must be accompanied by a female unless her husband or other relative accompanies her.

397. The same rule applies to all female prisoners where it can be conveniently carried out.

398. Prisoners should on no account be allowed to drink intoxicating liquor while in Police custody unless ordered by a medical man. If the escort has reason to know that a prisoner has intoxicating liquor on his person, the man in charge must take it from him.

399. When escorting prisoners, the first duty of a Constable is to see that he has a proper warrant for the prisoner's custody. He must on no account take over the prisoner without the warrant, unless its absence is satisfactorily explained, or under the orders of a superior officer.

400. He must then see that he has the prisoner's property-sheet and his property; if the latter is detained for any purpose he must see that an entry of such detention is made upon the property-sheet.

401. He must then search the prisoner and satisfy himself that he has no weapon or other property on him.

402. He must ascertain the character of the prisoner, so as to form an opinion whether it is necessary to restrain him in any way in order to secure his safe custody.

403. The indiscriminate use of handcuffs by the Police cannot be justified, and where only one person has to be escorted and he is not a violent character, or where the charge is not serious, they should not be used.

404. While the Police must take every precaution to prevent a prisoner escaping, and will be held responsible for his custody, they must at all times refrain from imposing unnecessary hardship or discomfort upon him, especially if he has not been convicted.

405. Prisoners must be supplied with necessary meals en route, which, if convenient, should always be obtained at a police-station.

406. Acquaintances or other persons shall not be allowed to accompany or mix with prisoners on escort, or communicate with them without permission.

407. Escorting Constables must on no account hand prisoners their property to carry. They shall retain the property in their own possession until arrival at destination, when it shall be handed over to the proper officer with the prisoner, and a receipt obtained for both.

408. When prisoners are being escorted from one district to another by train or boat, it is advisable to notify the Police at the latter place, so that the escort can be met and assisted.

409. Where possible, prisoners and escorts should not mix with the public when travelling, especially in the case of mental defectives. In some cases it may be necessary to arrange for a special compartment.

410. Police escorting prisoners must always travel in the same compartment with them if on a train, in the same cabin if on a steamer, and if by coach shall sit by them whether inside or outside of the coach.

411. Constables travelling on escort beyond the town where they are stationed must always be supplied with a “route.”

412. Unless good reason exists to the contrary, the same escort shall go through with the prisoner to his destination, as changing escorts en route is objectionable and leads to mistakes.

Promotions.

413. In making selections for promotion, due regard shall be paid to seniority of service and good conduct, but preference must always be given to those who possess a superior education and who have displayed