POLICE TACTICS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 July 1930, Page 2

POLICE TACTICS

COUNSEL’S PROTEST.

jfjj FINE IN CASE OF. SUNDAY ;i; TRADING. if jvj ikivj Mi ihfMuy ~T ! “ -i! Mi) lijnjn'i ’v • .' ;; • n AUCKLAND, July; 4. Police' tactics in catching a man who sold cigarettes on a Sunday were criticised by Mr A. V. Fraer in the Police-Court this morning, when Leonard Graham pleaded guilty to a charge of Sunday trading. “I will enter a formal plea of guilty,” said Mr Fraer, "but I want to bring one or two facts before your Worship- This man has a shop In Mount Eden Road. About 10.5 on June Ist. there' was a knock on his door. ; He'unbolted the door and saw a young man with a couple of girls. In a whisper the man asked defendane whether he could get a packet of cigarettes. The' man was admitted, the door was- closed and he was sold the cigarettes. Then he disclosed the fact that' he was a policeman. We don’t-mind a fair ‘cop,’ but I am sure neither yourself nor the Superintendent of Police will agree with those tactics.”’ •’

Sub-Inspector Shanahan: This is not the first time the man has been caught at this kind of thing. If these men persist in Sunday trading we are entitled to use such tactics to catch them. Addressing' the constable, counsel asked: “Were you told by your superiors to take the girls along to catch this man?” Witness: I refuse to answer questions like that, ;

Mr Fraer (to the Magistrate, Mr Hunt)V Surely- your Worship does not approve of tactics like that. It was a trap. ' “Put- : the defendant in the box,” said Mr Hunt. Graham, told the story of how the constable asked for a packet of cigarettes. .K ' '/f ;)i ’ “Is that all?” inquired the Magistrate. • , ( “Yesj’/ replied Mr Fraer. “Fined £2 and costs,” said the Magistrate.