2924
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 115

377. A solicitor is to be allowed to communicate with a prisoner in custody. Arrangements are to be made, as far as practicable, that the communication may not be heard by any one; but care is to be taken that the prisoner shall not escape, and a member of the Force must keep the prisoner in sight during the communication.

378. When a prisoner requests a member of the Force to ask a particular solicitor to call and see him the request must be complied with without delay.

379. No member of the Force shall try and persuade any prisoner to send for a particular solicitor, or dissuade him from sending for one of his own selection.

380. 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.

381. 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.

382. When escorting a prisoner the first duty of a member of the Force 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.

383. He must then see that he has the prisoner’s property sheet and his property; if the latter, or any part thereof, is detained for any purpose he must see that an entry of such detention is made upon the property sheet.

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

385. He must endeavour to 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.

386. 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, handcuffs should not be used.

387. 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.

388. A member of the Force 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.

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

390. 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 it must be taken from him.

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

392. A female mental defective, when under escort, must be accompanied by a female unless her husband or other relative accompanies her.

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

393. Prisoners under escort must on no account be handed their property to carry. The property must be retained by the escort in his own possession until arrival at destination, when it shall be handed over to the proper officer with the prisoner.

394. A member of the Force escorting a prisoner must invariably obtain a receipt for the prisoner and his property from the officer to whom he hands over the prisoner.

395. 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.

396. 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.

397. 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.

398. Members of the Force travelling on escort beyond the town where they are stationed must always be supplied with a “route.”

399. 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.

400. 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 superior intelligence, zeal, and integrity in the discharge of their Police duties. Members of the Force must therefore distinctly understand that there will be no hesitation in selecting the meritorious and efficient officer for promotion in preference to the senior but less efficient one.

The Commissioner may accelerate the increments of the pay of any member of the Force who has shown special aptitude and consistent zeal in the performance of his duties without affecting his position in the seniority list: Provided that any promotion or advancement made without regard to seniority shall be specially gazetted.

401. Seniority lists shall be kept at headquarters, in which officers and other members of the Force shall be shown according to their standing in their respective ranks.

402. No member of the Force shall be promoted to a higher rank unless he shall have passed the examination qualifying for such promotion.

403. An examination qualifying for promotion shall be held in the month of September in each year at each district headquarters, due notice of which shall be given in the Police Gazette.

404. No member of the Force shall be permitted to present himself for examination until he has completed at least seven years’ service.

405. Any member of the Force may sit for the examination qualifying for the rank of Sub-Inspector,