POLICE METHODS CRITICISED

Chronicle (Levin), 31 October 1946, Page 9

POLICE METHODS CRITICISED

UP Eeceived Wednesday, 11.35 p.m. bydxey, Oct. 3U. Strong criticism of police metliods oi dealing with arrested persons, was made by the Chief Justice, Bir Erederick Jordan, in the State Eull Court of Appeal. "If these metliods continue to be tolerated, it is but a short step to tlie moral, if not physical tactics of tlie Gestapo and Ogpu," he said. The case before tlie Court was-an appeal by a 7l)-year-old inan against his eonviction and sentence of seven years for a sex oll'ence. lle chiimed that certain evidence wliich seriously prejudieed him, liad been wrongly admitted. "There is 110 question of this man's guilt, " said tlie Chief Justice, "but even tlie foulest criminal is entitled to be iried aecording to the law. There seerns to be a growing impression in Police eircles that so long as a constable gives an arrested maii tlie usutil caution, there are few limits to the extent to wliieh he may go to extract an admission. In tlie present case ajipellant was arrested with an alleged aceomplice and taken to tlie C.l.B. for questioning. There he was submitted to a long cross-examination and was later confronted with a written confession by his accomplice. Confessions must be made voluntarily liy prisoners if they are to be used in evidence. 77 Sir Erederick Jordan said, i-n his opinion, appellant should have a new trial but in this he ivas overridden by Justices Davidson and Street who, by a majority verdict, dismissed the appeal.