CRIME FIGHTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 October 1931, Page 6

CRIME FIGHTERS

THREE RETIREMENTS. NOTED POLICE CHIEFS. LONDON, August 15. New Scotland Yard is shortly to lose, by retirement, three ol its most lam oils personalities. They are: —Superintendent Edward Barker, chief of the Special Branch; Chief Inspector William Fair, of the Criminal Record Office; and Chief inspector Berrett, Criminal Investigation Department.

All these officers have served in tlu? Aletripolita.il Police Force for nearly forty years, and .by an inexorable ml of tile Service they are retiring next October on reaching the age of sixty. Each in his sphere has made an enduring reputation, and only the lawless will rejoice when they leave.

Superintendent Parker is a keepei of State secrets. The Special Branch is responsible for the safety of the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family; it guards political leaders and distinguished visitors; serves as a bulwark against the plots and machinations of foreign spies and anarchists ; keeps a rigid chock on all aliens,land secures the deportation of all undesirables; and in many other ways safeguards the British ( onstituPrince’s Bodyguard. Notwithstanding the heavy responsibility of his office. Mr Parker is as genial now as when years ago he acted as bodyguard to the Prince of Wales on his visit to Canada, or when, in tlrmidst of the war. he investigated the treachery of Roger Casement and help, ed to smash the German spy organisa- | tion in this country.

Chief Inspector Falir knows more about the history of criminals than any other police officer in the country. As chief of the Criminal Record Office, he has charge of that, amazing collection of photographs known as the Rogues' (gallery and that novqi'-ending library of crime contained in the records of many thousands of criminals.

He is the author of brilliant little sketches of the methods of expert and travelling criminals, which are. circulated privately to all police forces once a week. These sketches constitute a series of astonishing detective stories that no fiction writer could equal. 14 will, indeed, he difficult to find another official Crime Editor of Afr Fair's ability and experience. The Gutteridge Murder.

Chief Inspector Berrett is the only detective who persists in wearing a heard —a well-trimmed affair which somebody said made him look like the late King Edward. He was horn in Gloucestershire, and when he came to London —a tall youngster of fine physique—lie had no difficulty in joining the ATetropolitan'Police, and in due course he was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department. He has had charge of the investigation of a very large number of murder eases, including the shooting of Police Constable Gutteridge, of tile Essex Constabulary. It was only after many weeks of patient inquiry that suspicion Cell on Browne and Kennedy. Browne was caught at Battersea with*the telltale revolver in liis possession. Kennedy had fled to Liverpool, and when he was trapped he tried to shoot his captor with an automatic pistol.