“WHO’S WHO” OF THE UNDERWORLD

Shannon News, 24 May 1929, Page 3

“WHO’S WHO” OF THE UNDERWORLD

POLICE NEWSPAPERS. CANNOT BE BOUGHT BY PUBLIC AT ANY PRICE. One of the least known of the daily papers, but one of the most important in Britain from'the point of view of public welfare, is the journal printed and edited in secret and entitled Informations. This newspaper, which cannot, be purchased by tho public at any price, deals very fully with the .activities of the underworld, and until a few years ago was known as the Hue and Cry.

The paper is issued twice a day from Scotland Yard’s own printing press to all senior police officers, superintendents ill change of every London police station, and to the more important, stations in provincial towns. In London it i 3 distributed by members of the flying squad mounted on fast motor cycles, and its rapid distribution is one of the most important factors in the arrest, of many desperate criminals. The paper is well illustrated-, and frequently contains photographs of “wanted” men, stolen property, and finger-prints. On other occasions summaries of recent burglaries, frauds, and felonies are included in the paper, which is naturally the terror- of «all criminals, since by its circulation the field of investigation is soon narrowed down. In it may be found the. explanation of many a secret, raid by the police, whose swift arrests have frequently mystified the public. A second paper, a bi-wockly journal, the Gazette, is also widely distributed to all members of the force. To read portions of this magazine is often like reading chapters from some Edgar Wallace story, for not only does it contain detailed accounts of the methods adopted to persuade criminals to betray themselves, but frequently full descriptions of the capture of such persons are set forth. v All members of the force whose aim it is to become •members of the Criminal Investigation department, conscientiously study every page of the Gazette, which is used in conjunction with other at both Peel House and at Scotland Yard, where files of every issue arc kept in the libiaiics. These two newspapers are known in the force as the “Who’s Who” of the underwork! ,