MUST ALTER THEIR WAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 407, 16 July 1928, Page 9

MUST ALTER THEIR WAYS

METHODS OF POLICE SOME REVISION WANTED British Official Wireless RUGBY, Sa.turda> Tho two reports of the tribunal which recently inquired into tho interrogation by officers at Scotland Yard of Miss Irene Savidge following upon the dismissal of the case against her and Sir Leo Money in connection with an incident in Hyde Park, were published to-day. Tho majority report was signed by the chairman of the tribunal. Sir John Eldon Bankes, formerly Justice o£ Appeal, and Mr. J. J. Withers, Conservative M.P. for Cambridge University, and the minority report was signed by Mr. H. 13. Lees Smith, Labour M.P. for Keighley. The case created enormous interest owing to the allegations made by Miss Savidge about the methods used by the police in taking her statement, which the officers concerned strenuously denied. The majority report accepts the evidence of the police officers and says they treated Miss Savidge with no lack of propriety and did not misconstrue or alter the answers she gave to their questions. Their interrogation followed the lines indicated by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Sir Archibald Bodkin, and was not unduly extended. Miss Savidge’s statements on material matters are not accepted. TAKING OF STATEMENT. Although it says the usual practice was followed by the police and no coercion was used the majority report expresses the view that the practice should be amended, and steps should be taken to secure that when the character or the reputation of a witness is the matter chiefly involved in an inquiry, and where the consequences of making a statement may be greatly to his or her prejudice, a witness should be informed beforehand of its nature and of its possible consequences. Only in a case of necessity should such a person be taken to a police station to make a statement. The minority report regards Miss Savidge as the more credible witness as to what happened at Scotland Yard and says it considers the police inspector and other officers concerned are deserving of censure. It also considers necessary a revision of the procedure in the taking of statemnts by the police. The two reports will be discussed in the House of Commons next week.