An inspector's security review

From the archive, first published Thursday 2nd Mar 2006.

RECENT discussion in the media as to the need for examining the efficiency of our constabulary has reminded me of a system in use in the remoter regions of the New Territories and Islands of Hong Kong when I was a police inspector there in the 1950s.

Each village engaged a group of half a dozen or so villagers to serve as Village Guards. They were armed with ex-military rifles but not uniformed. Such guards had an intimate knowledge of their areas and its inhabitants, any unusual activity or stranger was instantly identified.

They received no salary but each villager paid to them a sum of money directly proportional to his possessions, ie the number of cattle, poultry, farming implements, personal goods etc he owned.

Should any of these articles be stolen the Village Guards were obliged to reimburse the victim the full value of the stolen property or a cow, fowl etc identical in value to that which was stolen. Should a thief be identified, he was detained and taken to the nearest police station.

I wonder if some such form of insurance/security could be introduced in our rural areas? Neighbourhood Watch with teeth.

JAMES W POOL, Head Street, Pershore.

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