TRACKING CRIMINALS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5227, 16 January 1928, Page 1

TRACKING CRIMINALS.

A LONDON DETECTIVE’S! WORK.

A DAY’S PROCEDURE.

Although a detective’s normal tour of duty consists of eight hours daily,

he never knows what the day has in store for him when he begins work. He may have no break in the 24 hours except for meals (writes an “ Ex - Detqctive ”in the “ Daily Mail ”). 5 The detective begins the day at the detective, office by becoming conversant with what has happened since his last tour of inspection. “ Informations,” Steotland Yard’s daily newspaper,, contains reports of crimes up to the previous evening, the telegraph book records the night’s, important messages, and the Police Gazette, published weekly, prints the photographs and histories ofi suspects wanted mainly by the' provincial police. The next move —apart from Scot-

and Yard—rests with the “ D.D.I.'

(divisional detective inspector). This officer is the senior detective of each of the 23 divisions. On him rests the responsibility for the efficient working of his staff. Hisjvord is law, and

in times of stress he gives thq signal for a brief cessation of work. He is in constant touch with his subordinates.

If crime'is slack a detective has. a four-hours break in 'the middle of his eight hours, and when he resumefs duty in the evening he must be prepared for the unexpected happening in the night life of London. A crime may occur, a person is suspected, and the “D.D.l.’s” “Go out and find him”

means either an arrest or an anxious night of search. It is not enough for a detective to knOjW the “crooks” of his district. Their 'habits, associates, and resorts must be ah ope,n book to; him, and the law-abiding citizen would be amazed were he allowed to accompany the experienced detective to The places he seiarches for a wanted man. Ways and means of his own tell him if he is close to his quarry.

There are hundreds of people in every division who bear spitless reputations to everyone excefpt the detective. The motto of! “Open ears and a shut mouth” brings the detective much; He knows; the man who is a crook clover enough to keep clear of prison bars, but who prospers o-n crime. Receivers of stolen property are hard to capture, but easy to know.

It is the ambition of every detective

to capture a “ good. ” man. “ Good ” men gain the; title- because of- their criminal skill. Once I sent a receiver

to penal servitude. All my colleagues had known he was a crook- for years, and it was my luck to capture him wheji he stumbled. . An unsolved murder means sleepless nights for many detectives. All. kinds of clues flphv into the police station, and every one must be probed to the bottom. A ration -allowance is the only award for extended hours of duty. ' A detective is liable to be called

from bed at any hour. The unjfiormed police are summoned to the scene of an important robbery or a murder case, but when anything comes, under the ’heading “Crime” the Criminal Investigation Department takes over the job. In' a sudden emergency he may be. sent to the provinces without warning. He may not see his home for days or weeks. 'A colleague notifies his family. His colleagues at Scotland Yard work in squads under a chief inspector, and a great deal of their work is performed on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Complicated fraud cases and suspicious deaths mean many journeys to the provinces, Ireland, Scotland, and often to the. Dominions. The fraudulent bankrupt is well looked after by Scotland Yard. City of London cases co,me within its ken, for although the city ,is outside, the Metropolitan area, the Bankruptcy Court is not. The wireless-equipped motor-vans of the Flying Squad are always ready for instant, use. A flash to, Scotland Yard from any police station ends a car’s roving and sends it speeding to a fixed destination.