Scotland Yard Methods

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 581, 6 February 1929, Page 8

Scotland Yard Methods

Are Mystery-Solvers a Myth ?

THE Minister of Justice, tiie Hon. T. M. Wiiford, is inquiring into police methods in this country, and in a few days he is expected to make a pronouncement upon the criminal investigation side of the force. The suggestion made in The Sun last week that a replica of Scotland Yard—adapted to Yew Zealand requirements—should he established here is discounted in police circles in Wellington, and upheld by ex-police officers in Auckland.

JN a recent article, tears were expressed that the best detectives were being lost to the force through promotion to the uniformed branch. These misgivings were based upon the fact that a detective-sergeant ranks equal only to a sergeant of police, and draws similar pay. If he wishes further promotion he has to transfer to’ the uniformed branch in the role of senior-sergeant. Then, after the necessary experience has been obtained, he may be promoted to sub-inspector-ship. Inquiries made at police headquarters by The Sun’s resident reporter at

Wellington produced the opinion that any alarm was based upon a misunderstanding of the administration and operation of the police force. It was there explained that when a detective-sergeant reaches the position of sub-inspector or inspector, his experience as a detective is not lost to the country, for he is in control of and responsible for all investigations and prosecutions for crime within his area. He is, in fact, a commissioned officer in the force in which he previously has served as a non-commis-sioned officer. Frequently he directs lines of inquiry from his office, the chief-detective of his district having to report to him on each development of the case.

“When Mr. W. B. Mcllveney was appointed Commissioner of Police,” The Sun’s WeUington man writes, “one of his first moves was to appoint to commissioned rank in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch two officers who possessed extensive experience in the detective force. These men have a conference every morning and decide on their course of action in any contingency. A dispute is referred to the superintendent, or to the commissioner himself. “This practice, it is explained, is a

replica of the methods used at Scotland Yard. The popular idea that Scotland Yard is a place where expert mystery-solvers are produced is regarded as a myth. The man sent from the Yard to the scene of any criqie is required to furnish daily reports, and he then acts upon instructions given him from the Y'ard itself. HEAD OFFICE CONTROL

“The relationship between the detective force and the uniformed branch is admittedly a problem, but the method of promotion now adopted is claimed by officers in the force to be based upon the recommendations of the 1919 Commission, under the present Minister of Justice, the Hon. T. M. Wiiford. Before a man can be promoted, it is considered desirable that he should obtain some experience in the outside work of the force, in the administrative difficulties and in the general methods outside his province as a detective.”

An entirely different viewpoint is advanced in Auckland by an ex-detec-tive in the New Zealand Police Force, who makes it clear that minute crime investigation cannot be controlled entirely from head office, but must be given into the hands of the investigators themselves. This fact makes it necessary that the best men—not in physique, but iu brains and crime detection —should be employed. A detective reaching the position of sub-inspector or inspector may direct lines of inquiry, but he does not conduct any of the investigating work himself. He might, for instance, instruct his man to search for fingerprints, but the detective, possessing less perspicacity than his superior, might overlook some apparently trifling—yet actually highly important —clue. “BIG FOUR” ON THE JOB “With minor cases, of course, the highest grade men at Scotland Yard do not concern themselves,” he said, “but in difficult crimes the ‘Big Four’ actually carry out the detection. The idea of having officers with detective experience to control the detective branch is a good one so far as it goes, but beyond conferring with others and doing the administrative work, these men never are able to get out on the job themselves. “They might have to consult the superintendent, or even the commissioner, but it is possible in the New Zealand Police Force for a superintendent or the commissioner to have had uniformed experience only. Without detracting from the ability of these men as policemen, how can they be expected to serve efficiently as detectives?

“It is no flattery to say that the New Zealand Police Force is one of the.most efficient in the world, but I agree that a special crime investigation department would be a great help to the administration and the detection of crime—a force in which detectives could reach high-paid positions and retain their tracking propensities. “The 1919 Commission was well conducted. but did the commission consider a detective service in which small men could be appointed—men who, under the present system, never could enter the police force; men who could detect criminals, but never could effect an arrest?”