the country and border battalions welcomed the use of women as essential in the searching of women and children but the city based battalions were slower to see the advantages and to some extent resented the presence of greenfinches at first. in the short-term all came to appreciate the value of having females with patrols. through time the role of women was expanded as it was realised that their higher pitched voices were more suited to radio transmission than men. tasked to relieve rmp women at the belfast city centre segment gates they learned how to accept abuse from the public and how to avoid traps that could be set for them while they searched other women; i.e., razor blades placed in pockets.