“Abhorrent Practice”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 380, 14 June 1928, Page 9

“Abhorrent Practice”

SCOTLAND YARD’S WAYS SIR JOHN SIMON'S VIEW (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian P.A.—United Service) Reed. Noon. LONDON, Wednesday. The final stage of the Savidge inquiry began with counsel's speeches. Mr. Birkett contended that the charge against the police had not been sustained. Mr. Johnston's charges in the House of Commons had created a false impression. If Sir Leo Chiozza Money had entered the witness box at the original hearing he could have shed much light on the occurrences on the night of Miss Savidge’s return from Scotland Yard. He apparently wanted to let the matter drop. His counsel, Mr. Syrett, adopted a similar attitude. Sir John Simon presented the public viewpoint when he said every citizen must regard the case, if it had happened, as what might happen to his own daughter. What father would permit a girl of 22 to be handed over to three police officers and taken to Scotland Yard? “I regard with abhorrence the practice that permits the Chief Constable or the Chief Inspector, to say, ‘We wanted the girl to come to Scotland Yard and she was willing?’ “It is important, if the police are to have the powers they possess, that they must act on them properly.” The inquiry has closed.