GAOLS’ COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1463, 24 October 1878, Page 3

GAOLS’ COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

[By Telkqeaph.]

[from the coeeespondent op THE PEESS.] The charges against the police may be summarised as follows :—(1) Cruelty to prisoners under arrest; (2) neglect of duty on prosecuting offenders, and arbitrary assumption of discretionary powers ; (3) favoritism and partiality in recommending and objecting to publicans’ licenses, and in the general supervision of public-houses ; (4) laxity of discipline and breach of regulations. The committee regret that, though desirous of obtaining all the evidence available, they have not been able in the time at their disposal to sift thoroughly some of the matters brought' under their notice. Some of the cases complained of occurred so long ago that there has been great difficulty in getting accurate information. Charges against the police in other parts of the colony have been tendered to the committee - but it was necessary to restrict' the present inquiry to the case of the'Wellington police. The conclusions arrived at are as follows: There is no reason to believe that wanton and deliberate cruelty and injustice have been practised, but the committee have been satisfied that in two cases citizens were wrongfully arrested, and that they were wrongfully treated. It has been proved that handcuffs are too readily used, and that handcuffed persons, when violent, have been repeated ly chained down to rings in the floor of the police cells to keep them quiet. An attempt has been made on the part of the police officers to justify the practice, on the ground that prisoners might break down the cell doors. The practice is cruel, dangerous, and under no circumstances justifiable. There appear to be good grounds for this complaint. ■" In two < uses before the Committee no gcod reason has been shown by tHo Inspector for not" instituting criminal proceedings. In one case a charge is made that notwithstanding the remonstrances of the prosecutor, the police declined to take up a case of perjury, and where a conviction was obtained by the prosecution of a private individual, and that the action of the Inspector was inexcusable. This charge has not been made out, but the committee is satisfied on the evidence that too much power has been loft to the police in this district, and that practically a recommendation or suggestion on the part of the police, without further evidence, lias had too much weight in the granting and refusal of licenses. There has been considerable laxity with respect to the police regulations. Under the system recently inaugurated matters have been improved in this respect, but the police ha e been too much in the habit or frequenting public houses, and a policeman appears in one case, at any rate, tjO have been allowed to live zn ops,

Charges have been made against the police of improperly accepting rewards from private individuals for duty done. There is no evidence of corrupt intention, but the police officers have been open to suspicion in consequence of the prevalence of a bad system. No reward should be given for police services by private individuals except through the heads of the department, who should give instructions for its distribution.

It has further appeared in the evidence that at the Wellington station there has been no proper system of recording papers or keeping books.

In conclusion the committee desire to record their deliberate opinion that no police system will be satisfactory which allows officers and men to remain too long in one place. Even if their judgment does not become warped by local influences, they are subjected to the suspicions of being so influenced. The evidence taken before this committee, and the demeanour and expressions of witnesses reveal a few of the consequences of offending the police, which leave a painful impression. One of the advantages to be gained by the establishment of a New Zealand police force is the possibility of moving officers and men from one place to another from time to time. The committee recommend the periodical transfer of police officers from one station to another.