On the 15th November 1900 Chief Constable Henry Daniell published General Order 32 which announced new conditions of employment for new recruits. It stated:
All recruits enrolled in this Force will be sent alternately accordingly to date of joining to Hitchin or to Watford to learn their duties. Their service will be probationary and not counting towards pension for the first four weeks after their enrolment or for each longer period as the Chief Constable may allow for the following purpose:
Every recruit before being fitted with uniform and sent on duty will be required to pass an examination at the Constabulary Headquarters. The examination will consist of:
1. Simple arithmetic.
2. The drawing up of a Police Report of a Felony Misdemeanour, fire or other occurrence.
3. The filling up of such forms as are required to be filled up by a Constable.
4. Written replies to questions on the action to be taken on verbal reports made to a Constable on duty, or in consequence of occurrences which may come under the observation of the Constable.
5. Standing Orders of the Force.
6. Drill.
To enable the recruit to pass this examination, the Deputy Chief Constable and the Superintendent of the Division are to cause the recruit to read up the necessary books, to draw up reports, to fill returns and are generally themselves or through their Clerk or other experienced Officer, to assist in preparing recruits for the examination they will be required to pass.
If a recruit fails to pass the examination at the end of four weeks, he will be allowed an additional period not exceeding 4 weeks to allow him to prepare himself further. If at the end of two months, the recruit fails to pass his examination, he will be called upon to resign his situation.
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