EVEN THE POLICE ARE HUMAN

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 14

EVEN THE POLICE ARE HUMAN

(By

y WHIM WHAM)

"The conviction of an innocent person i» very rare Indeed, but many guilty persons are acquitted dally by the Courts. . . . Are we putting the illusory fears about the impairment of liberty before the promotion of justice? I think we are, and (hereby the criminal Is being installed as a privileged class . . .”—The Commissioner of Police. Mr C. L. Spencer, to members of the Wellington Anglican Lunch Club. Daily the Guilty go scot-free— And Many, not a Few! So Mr Spencer says, and He Should know if This is true, — Not just the odd unpunished Crime, But Everywhere, and All the Time. Daily they get away with It— And not a Few, large Numbers! Constrain’d by Law, the Courts acquit, While supine Justice slumbers! For Heaven’s sake, Sir, don’t get panicky, We’re teetering on the Brink of Anarchy! If Many, daily thus elude The Law’s enfeebled Arm, How can the Consequence be viewed Except with some Alarm? Our Social Fabric’s deeply shaken If Mr Spencer’s not mistaken: And so It may be, so It may, With all the Good we hold precariously: And there are Many who DO pay Because They have behaved nefariously, And Some (how Else?) who get acquitted Of Crimes it’s likely They committed. I’ve got as warm a Spot as Any For the Police (who are my Friends); I wish I felt so sure, so MANY Cheat Justice and frustrate its Ends. If NO-ONE EVER DlD!—Think, Sir, Only God’s Justice cannot err.