POLICE FORCE PRAISED

Chronicle (Levin), 13 August 1947, Page 6

POLICE FORCE PRAISED

-Press Association

Need For More Equipment Stressed

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, August 12. Moving the seeond. reading of the Police Eorce Bill in the House oi tiepresentatives, the Prime Minister rsaid the measure- was, in the main, eonsolidation. We were fortunate in our police force, he said, which had a very capable 'ollieer in Commissioner Oummings. The calibre of the force was never more amply demonstrated than in the war vears. Today the police force was adopting the most up co-date and moderu methods employed lu the detection of crime and though there were a few unsolved cases he did not doubt that the oH'enders would be brought to book. The jntroduction of policewomen into the police force had been an unqualified success, said Mr. C. G. E. Harkei (Ilawke's Bay). He joined in the tribute paid by Mr. Eraser to the efficlency of the police force. Mr.Harker said that while preeipitate aetion was aot required he hopecl the number of women in the force would be increased as occasion demanded. Their services were most valuable in the prevention of crime. ilr. Harker, discussing the clause providing for the retirement oi police otiicers at the age of (55, said he realised the necessity for this at the present time when mere vyas a shortagt of police ollicers but he lioped that memuers of,. the force would have the opportunity to state their views on the relationship betweeu the retiring age and superannuation provisious. The Prime .Minister gave an assur ance that ihis opportunity would be given but said cumpulsory retirement at a lower age at the present time would deeimate the force. Invidioiij Distinction. Mr. Ormond Wilson (Palmerston Norlh) said uue clause in the Bill appeared to make an mvidious distinction ihe clause provided tliat when a super intciulent, inspector or sub-inspector wa's charged with misconduct or negiect ot' uuty, tlie Minister should appoint two or more persons, only oue of whom should be a liiember of the force, to in qaire into tne charge. With a sergeanl ur constaiile the tribuual was any supenntendeut or inspector. Tlius an oilicer accused of an oll'ence liiight have his own superior oliicer conducting the niquiry. 11 r. \\ ilson suggesteel that the qualifying words '"not ueing concerned uith the case " should be added to the Mause empow ering a superintendent or inspector tu niquire into charges agamsi sergeanis or cunstables. The Bill also provided for a line of not over £5 un persons who did not nltend such an mquiry or who rei'used to give evidence or answer questioiu. Buch a wimess miglit be a member oi ihe pubiic and he did not tliink it right that a superiiiteiident or inspector shouid have liie right to line a luemuer of the pubiic. .Mr. A. M. ruiiay fXorth Bliore) pahi triuute to memijors of ihe police force for their knowledge u the law. They were, he said, as sMiiei as the average tegal praciit uiiier ui cross-exaiiuuation. iie nad only oue critirism to orfer oi ulieir conduct m court aiul tliat was nol agaiust poiice prosecutors but agaiust some court atteiulants who were ratlier orusque in their haudling oi accused persons, treating tliem as if they were guilty xnerelv because they liad been charged. He would like to see moie humane methods in dealing with accused persons in court.

Mr. Einlay supported the suggestion which had been nuide by Mr. Wuson foi a minor ai.iendinent providing ade quate protection ior persons who niight iniioceiitly come into possession oi a copy of tne Poiice Gazette. Mr. Einlay agreed that the Gazette, in the hand.-, oi a person of ill-intent, couid be used for most iniproper purposes and it was only reasonable to provide -penalties agaiust that, but there was no reason wny protection shouid not be given those who, without any evil intent, found tlieiuseives in possession of a copy of the Gazette. Mr. Einlay asked for an improvement of the comlitions in the Auckland police barracks and locKup, declaring that in tlie latter ihe blankets were otten not clean, presenling the risk oi uifections to tlie oceupants of the lock up. ' Mr. J. T. Watts (St. Albans) said New Zealatnl was singularly fortunate in having a police force of such inLegrity tliat instances oi corruption oi iniproper aclion by niembers of the i'oice were ra.ro. We were also fortunate that yur police force worked publicly and that we had no secret police as sonie counlries did today. Mr. Watts said an important feature of the Bill was the provision for a new • appeal authority for members of the loice. This wouid give valuable protection to those of the lower ranks of tiie force in the event of any threat oi their dismissal. It was a fact that sorne of the ssnior officers in the force nad a reputation as severe disciplinarians and tlie appeal procedure would guarante-3 the rights of those in subordinate positions. ALr. Watts said there had been a number of unsolved murders or criines of viulence in New Zealand over the past year or so. They ' miglit be the aflerinath of war when respect for tlie sanctity of huiuan life was lessened by

years of slaughter, but particularly in the past few montiis soiue very bad examples of murder had come to light. Ihe pubiic was becoining concerned and lie iioped the Prime Minister, on a suitable occasion, would give the House and country some indication of the police force 's reasuns for the increase in these criines and if there was any hope of soiving tiie more difficult cases. Mr. M. H. Oram (Manawatu) said that while the number of unsolved criines was not a redection in any way on the einciency of the police force, he hopecl the Prime Minister would not he n'iggardly or parsimonious in giving the force all the equipment it required. lie considered there would be some con troversy over the clause which gave tlie police tlie right to obtaiu all necessary particulars of a person who was iield in law tui custody; but the subsection of the clause stated that if Ihe person was acquitted those particulars shall be destroyed forthwitli.- Mr. Oram . said Ihe sub-section was a. bad nne and

there was 110 justilication for the destruction of such particulars. The more particulars that could be obtained, tlie more they would. a'ssist in the detection of crime." Why should anybody ob.ject to their lingerprints remaining 011 record, he asked. He would like to see the police given every chance to obtain all the lingerprints they could. Mr. Bodkin: lt miglit aet as a deterrent. • Mr. Oram said a penaltv not ex-ceed ing three months' imprisonment or a flue not exeeeding £50, was inadequate where a person was found guilty of offering a liribe to the police. The interchange of members of the New Zealand and Australian police f'orces was a move in the right direetion and would be of advantage to both organisatious. The debate was interrupted by the mdjourniuent at 10.30 until 2.30 ]>.m. loraorrow.