A Policeman's Lot (1962)

London.
The narrator, Wilfrid Thomas, is an Australian "studying your police methods" in an item about crime prevention.
Aerial shot of Trafalgar square. Panning shot of a marching band in a parade.
C/U of a policeman's feet walking in Trafalgar Square, he is singing - "A Policeman's Lot is not a Happy One".
C/U of a closed sign on a shop door - a policeman's hand checks it is locked. C/U of a little girl crying, the policeman's hand takes hers and leads her away.
The next sequence shows how people's carelessness causes crime. C/U of Barclay's Bank sign, tilt down to two men taking a case with their firm's wages to a waiting car, pan to a couple stroll past carrying their wages in loose bags. In an office foyer, a receptionist takes a businessman to his meeting, he leaves behind his briefcase. A girl brushing her hair in public toilet leaves behind her watch and ring. C/U of the policeman's feet as he struggles to escort a drunk man to the station.
A thief smashes a window and takes a handful of jewellery, before speeding off in a car. C/U of a flag - signifying the crime - being placed into a map at Scotland Yard. Panning shots of parked cars - the policeman looks for the getaway vehicle's number plate. C/U of a list a of registration numbers. C/U of the policeman's hand opening the door to a police telephone. Two policemen get into a Black Maria and drive away.
A woman parks her car leaving the doors unlocked and the keys in the ignition. A suspicious looking man walks up to the car, gets in and drives to a quiet side street where he can steel the radio and binoculars lying on the passenger seat.
C/U of the policeman's feet walking along past a park, we hear him whistling.
A bogus insurance man with a false moustache rings a doorbell - he notices a newspaper in the door and milk bottles on the step. He finds a key under the mat and lets himself in. A nosey neighbour over the road notices the crime and calls the police. Various shots of the police radio control room. The burglar is seen walking down a street, a police car comes to a halt beside him. The policeman demand to search the case his carrying and the burglar gives himself up - it's a fair cop guv!
L/S of a busy London street - the camera man's hand appears and halts the traffic.
The policeman is named as a P.C. Drake.
FILM ID:191.01
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