THE POLICE FORCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7922, 30 September 1904, Page 4

THE POLICE FORCE.

At tlie Supreme.Court on Wednesday his Honor Mr Justice Cooper remarked-: "■My experience of police officers is" that they.'are-very fair indeed in their administration of the law, and I have never had occasion to complain of them." That was a flattering remark; and in the:-. opinion of the Bench it was well- deserved. But it must' not be assumed from -his •' Honoris ■■: remark that ;th'e police are an . immaculate body'of men; they' Have faults, and as a very glaring one was committed' in the Supreme, Court on Thursday it is oniy, right and proper that publicity should be giyen to it. In a case before the Courfc early in ".the ■.'day a ltfcal resident, went' into the witness box togive evidence for the Crown iii a charge against a nian of haying committed false pretences. Later in the day the same witness: .gave evidence for the defence in a.case in which another person was charged ■ with being ■a rogue and a vagabond. In. tke first

case the witness was thought to be use. ful to the police to secure a conviction, but when it was thought that he would' probably defeat them in the second case a list of convictions against him was handed in for the purpose of attacking his credibility! The witness was told by his Honor that he was not compelled to answer questions regarding these convictions. Probably the police consider these' tactic* to be clever, but most people will condemn them as being improper. If the man was of the class the police wished the Court to think he was why did they use him in the first case in order to secure a conviction ? We hold no brief for the person referred to, but we believe in British fair play and like to see.people—even the police—act up to > ifcV Time and again the New Zealand police have been told by their late Commissioner and by Judges and Magistrates that it: is not their duty to manufacture criminals.' If they cannot remember this wholesome advice they should get it printed and paste it in-their hats for future guidance.