GUARDIANS OF PUBLIC PEACE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 75, 22 December 1920, Page 8

GUARDIANS OF PUBLIC PEACE

THE POLICEMAN'S DUTY

ADVICE BY THE COMMISSIONER

By way 'of introduction to a booklet containing the regulations under, the Police Force Amendment Act 'of last year, the Commissioner of Police (Air. J. O'Donovan) reviews- for the benefit of members of tho force the general aspccts of police dub'. After' a reference to the fact that all positions in the servici, are how open to all its members, the Coin missioner goes on to say• "We are always in -need of recruits. Eecruits possessed of tho qualificationsphysical. moral, and mental—set out m the regulations are what are wanted. -.Won who have suffered grievous .injuries, or illness such as rheumatism, indigestion. gnstritis, which are not always discernible by the surgeon should not attempt to come into the Police ForceThey must 6oon leave. So also the man who thinks that a moral standard inconsistent with truth and honour will suit. If perchance such-a man succeeds in passing the training stage into the police ranks without his mind being dieabused of that false idea ba. is a pest and a plague. He should decide to remain outside rather than bo east out in disgrace which would undeservedly adhere to his comrades. Further the 'crank' and tho agitator have no con. genial place in the Police Force: they will be weeded out when their propensities are discovered. It is necessary that these standards should' be maintained. "Wn stand in a position of unique advantage,' and disadvantage. In general ■our duties,are performed l in public view;and even if done in private our actions al 'e .always liable to public scrutiny .and criticism. - It is unnecessary to emphasise the value of a high standard of conduct in such circumstances. Our prestige as ponce officers depends more upon personal character and conduct than even iipon the law with whose authority ive ore clothed. This view of conduct must not bo confined to.the official and public side of life; it ; must be carried into,alt tho affairs of private life also: even in. this we cannot divest ounselves of the character of our office. No suggestion is made that private rights should be sunk, but in all things it behoves us to bo decent.

It is chiefly ill the discharge of our .tluties, however, thnt our actions appeal to the public.; The opportunities in this , respect are open to nil, but in different : jays. The constable on boat or point • duty necessarily, has the greatest .opmir-, tumty of impressing the public for Rood ~.H o « constantly in tlio cyo- of the public. His manly, ypright denortnvejit, his gravity of demeanour, his ■calm alertness, emphasised by a scrupulous attention to tho proper condition of his uniform dress, mako tho first favourable impression. These are the silent it' l blesses of training and discipline; lack ■ «o if 1 nrot ' ut ! es the opposite effect. - . Self-control is the next factor. Civility of words and due restrain in actions mako a great impression upon tho public mind; want-of them is unpardonable. The constable on the beat is naked about a - multitude of things, especially by country visitors and strangers from other places. He should bj well prepared to answer all questions relating to tho town or city, such as arrival and departure of mX' !(T e !t'' and public conveyances; loutes of traffic; location of wards or recognised divisions of the town; streetsplaces of worship; hospitals, public ,or private; public baths; doctors' and dentists surgeries; offices of tho Government and corporation; schools, theatres and public halls; hotels, licensed and unlicensed with the standard of accommtv elation to be expected in ,e»ch; direction and means of.travelling to suburbs; public parks and recreation grounds, museums and public libraries'. .A wide knowledge of the places of business is also very essential. A civil, correct answer to all sucli questions is much appreciuted, and cannot fail to enhance respect for the constable and his offico. An uncouth or boorish answer has the opposito feet; it is generally duo to the constable s inexcusable ignorance of the in--•formation sought. In any case, "a soft answer turneth away wrath," and even a fool should not bo answered according" to his folly. A constable should not degrade himself by adopting the method of foolish or malicious persons who seek only to provoke 'him with senseless or taunting questions. Suclr persons should do dealt with firmly but courteously withal. ...

"Women and children, the old and the disabled and feeble, should be the special objects of the solicitude and care of the police in all' public placos. Without deserting, their posts or otherwise infringing discipline, -the police could assist them in many small things not strictly, within the lines of duty. But silly extremes ■ in this' resoect must be avoided.

"The returned ' solders also deserve oiir . sympathy and' merit our assistance. Their experiences in thj inferno through which they have passed no "Virgil, no Dante,' could adequately describe.. From that inferno many returned shattered in mind.' and nerves, or maimed in body. In/certain conditions they are liable to be,.erratic and perhaps to 'commit offences, particularly against public order. In .'such cases, when it is necessary to interfere with them, tho utmost tact and discretion should be "exercised. Forbearance in'the use, of force and in respect of arrest should be carried to tho utmost limits consistent with the necessities of 'the' ; case. The friendly aid of willing civilians should be availed of as far as possible.

"The treatment of offenders is a matter of extreme importance. Care should be taken that no avoidable degradation is put upon them. Persons who are found committing offences in public , places should not be unnecessarily ' exposed on the spot. Summonses for offenceß should not b.a delivered to defendants within the view of others:, such persons should be tactfully drawn aside to some private place. When offenders are arrested public exposure, should bo avoided as much as possible. Vehicles ( '(covered, if available) should be used to convey them from the place of arrest to the lock-up or prison, at the expense of the Department. Any ill-treatment, wilful or negligent, of persons in the custody of tiig police, no matter for what cause, ought to be scrupulously avoided. No conduct is more .unmanly; no cruelty more callous. Details of evidence against persons arrested should not be made public until'the proper time before the pn>per tribunal.. Above all, allusion to the criminal history of accused, or any other matter likely to prejudice him at his trial, should not be made in information given to the Press, particularly when arrests are made for the ■ more serious crimes, such as murder, manslaughter, burglary, housebreaking, and others. Uniformly humane conduct' to offenders cannot fa'il to raise the police in general public estimation, and even in the .estimation of accused persons themselves. A few instances of contrary behaviour leave stigmas on the whole force that are hardly ever effaced. "The discharged convict should also receive what aid and encouragement we can give him to obtain suitable employment, etc., and redeem his character. At the vsry least the police should place no obstacle in his way. A delicate and difficult question arises, however, when there is conflict between the interest. of the man and the interest of the public. Such a question may arise, for instance, when a convicted thief obtains employment, 6ay, in an hotel whsro many travellers are accommodated. What should the police do? Should a hint of his character be giv«n to his employer? The result would be instant loss of employment. The action of the police, often falsely alleged, in such cases has been jo unequivocally condemned that it is deemed to b;e best to let things take their own course. ■ l "I will now allude to the light which is.daily thrown upon the conduct.and actions of the police at the trials in the courts. This is tho place, where tlie fitrone light of examination nnd crossexamination by able counsel exposes the moral and mental stuff of police officeio. For it must be observed that though truthfulness is the. first f sentl " in police witnesses, it is not the only one. 1' capacity to observe, to note, and to Jiarrate accurately is equally lmijortant, for accuracy is the test and guarantee of truth. In this position the'officer who acquits himself well reflects .j^ the whole force. The man who finis n either respect, but particular:ly in truthanes? by reasop of nioral Ppliqnivy 0»

negligence in exerting himself to the utmost to obtain evidence of nil tho facts, commits a grave crime against the community, as veil as against the force; "In tho,course of your duties you aro entrusted with confidential information affecting tlio character nnd honour of individuals or families, or relating to th,eir business. Such information must 'bo carefully guarded, so that no improper disclosure of it is made. Remember t'lint., as such information was given to you in your official capacity, you have no right to use' it or to disclose it, except 'for a legitimate official purpose. .Any wanton or malicious 'breach of confidence is a certain sign of unfitness for the Police Force. These remarks also apply, to tho wives of members of tho force, especially those in countty sta•ions, who, in th,; absence of their husbands, receive much information of a confidential nature to be communicated i.o t'hu oilicoro on their return. It is not necessary to point out how essential it is that the recipients of such information should be discreet and faithful in preserving confidence. Tattling about . vuch matters is calculated to cause much mischief and to involve the officers in difficulties. . "It is also , very necessary that our relations with our fellow-servants of tho State in other Departments should tie friendly and helpful. We should readily and cheerfully assist them in any sudden or unexpected difficulty arising in tho courso of thoir public duties: but except in such emergencies our assistance in carrying out the normal work of their Departments should bo authorised by the Commissioner or other superior officer of •police. "Further, it is of supreme importance that the true spirit of comradeship and good-fellowship should prevail amongst all ranks of • the force toward? one another. So important-is this matter not only to the happiness of the members, but also to the discipline of the force, that the recognised practice is tb expel men who habitually quarrel with their comrades. Fellow-servants who cannot agree, nnd quarrel, nre not qualified to co-operate loyally in carrying out duties, that require unr.ly of will and purpose. Loyalty to comrades and superiors is essent'xil, but it'must not be' allowed to permit or'enable injustice to be done in I any circumstances. While your attWudo to the 'public in general should be friend--ly and sociable, care must bo taken that you avoid habitual association with persons of low or ' questionable character. 'A man is known by • his company.' But above, all things in is essential that no unauthorised influence outside the force should be allowed to act upon your conduct in the discharge of your duties or in the means of seeking redress for your grievances as individuals. or as a body. When such extraneous assistance Is accepted your independence is bartered, and, tho confidence of the public is lost. "AVe now come to the time when organised bodies of the community, bent upon obtaining rights or advantages, and impatient 'with constitutional and moral methodsf seek to gain their ends by disturbance, violence, and'illegal means. The conflicting parties ■ divide into hostile camps. Our duty in such a condition is to preservo peace and protect life and property. We take up our stand ■ unmoved on 'No man's land, and compel the conflicting parties tb retire to the constitutional, trenches, and to have recourse only to legal and moral measures. This is the .posiTioii Assigned to the police of every State within i3ie Empire, and also of . those States wliose system of jurisprudence and government is rooted in the British tradition. On such an occasion a member of the force who considers that one of tflio parties has', a greater claim upon his allegiance than the established Government is not qualified to discharge the duties he has.undertaken on oath without favour or affection. He is called upon only no en- . force the criminal law (which favours no party).'in order that life and property and order may be preserved; if this entails too great a strain upon his sympathies he should retire in good time from- tho force. . . "In Great Britain eyery country and every borough has its own police, controlled and paid by the corporation. In New- Zealand, as in tho Australian States, the Police Force is-national: the corporations depend upon the Government to furnish and mainiuin the necessary quota of police, but exercise no control over them., The attitudo of the police to the boroughs and counties in which they' are stationed should be to conform themselves as fully as possible to the requirements of .the respective corporations. They should recognise it as a primary duty to protect all corpora- . tion property, such as pnrks, buildmgß, fountains, plantations, statues, monuments, waterworks, and tho like, nnd to maintain good order in all streets nnd public. places. In doing so, recourse should be had to the by-laws where applicable, rather than to statutes, and the assistance l of tho corporation solicitor in' difficult prosecutions and appeals in by-law-eases should be obtained. The administration of by-laws not relating to public order or safety, such as draining, sanitation, registration of vehicles and : dogs, the licensing of drivers, building operations, etc., should be left the council. |

"By-laws express the will of the locnl authority as to the mar.ner in which >' 1 - general provisions of a staibte shall be applied locally. They apply to a large number of subjects relating to the order, safety, comfort, health, and pleasure of the community, and are therefore oi great importance i.n promoting its welfare. Generally speaking, ac:« committed in breach of by-laws are not in themselves criminal or wrongful, and therefore tho enforcement, of bv.laws in a manner to effect their purpose' without unnecessary irritation requires unceasing vigilance on the one hand and great taci! and discretion on the other. While discrimination of classes should be avoided, a rigid rule that all breaches must be prosecuted should hot ba followed. A wise discretion should lie exercised, and warnings may be given in suitable cases. In many instances the offences are committed by strangers in ignorance of the by-laws of the place; in some cases accidental oversiglit or unexpected: delay is the causo. Only in comparatively feweases is the act wilful or culpable, 'and the laxity of tho police may often be a contributing cause. By-laws .■ enforced with harshness become the means of oppression, while laxiity greatly diminishes their beneficial pprpose, Either of these conditions causes dissatisfaction with the police and brings them into disrepute, whilst regular, constant, and discreet attention is certain to be appreciated. -N0 branch of police work is so conspicuous as this,' and the manner in which it is done reflects at once either favourably or unfavourably upon the police.

"As you' rightly insist thaii all persons treat your authority witih respect, so also it. is incumbent on you to render to all persons in superior positions in the State the respect due to vlieir ranks and authority. The regulation requires you to render many of such persons formal and respectful recognition by a salute. You should take tare to acquaint yourselves with these persons—at! least those who live or exercise their functions in the place where you are stationed—so that you may comply with your obligations and avoid the appearance of being wilfully disrespectful. To your own superior officers you should be uniformly respcctful and obedient. No'/aing so clearly exhibits the value and force of training and discipline as your attitude towards your officers. This obligation should be observed not only in thoir presence, but also in all other circumstances. Instead of carping at their orders, and finding fault with tho arrangements they make, endeavour to loarn the purpose underlying these matters, so that you, when your time comes to take up flicir duties, may have tho necessary knowledge and understanding of administrative work, and not have to begin with the slow and disagreeable process of rectifying the erroneous ideas created by wrong construction of your present superiors methods. No man is fit to command unless he has first well learned how to obey.

"Tlie foregoing is a review of the general aspects of police duty; its aim is to give a true -idea of 'the spirit which should animate a police officer in the execution of his duties and direct his general conduct. The laws are the highest secular expression of the moral stand' ard o fthe nation. Ton are called uixm to administer and enforce them. 'lliis is a (great trust 011(1 a groat privilege. In underi'nking to do f=o you impliedly assuro that your conduct and character shall bo in perfect accord with those standards. The extent of your success or failure is the measure of the respect or disrespect you bring to i!he force. Your constant aim should therefore ho to maintain individually and collectively the highest standard of conduct and efficiency. so that our force may become a credit (to ourselves ancl' the pride of the

people of this beautiful land whom it is our privilege- to serve. A people more generous or apnreciative of good service cannot be found."