ROYAL COMMISSION ANNOUNCES REPORT

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 299, 2 December 1936, Page 5

ROYAL COMMISSION ANNOUNCES REPORT

MISCONDUCT OF SYDNEY POLICE NOW CONFIRMEQ ■ " II ILLEGAL BETTING CHARGES ARE SUBSTANTIATED. . -a A TWENTY-THREE MEMBERS OE FORCE HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED. ' t

(Ptes» Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY. December I. : The report of Judge Markell, who as a Royal Commisaioti lengthily inquired into illegal betting operations and allegations against prosecuting police, was tabled in Parliament to-day. As a result seven police sergeants and 15 constables will be suspended from duty immediately. - Judge Markell found that 15 persons had been wrongfully .Convicted. Two sergeants and eight constables were adjudged gUilty of “framing” and giving false evidence, one constable guilty of. wrongfully inducing a person to plead guilty, two constables guilty of giving false evidence before the Commission and one sergeant guilty of wrongful entry into private premises. Judge Markell severely criticised the conduct of others. The Premier, Mr. B. S. B. Stevens, announced in the Assembly the suspension from duty of all members of the Police Force found guilty, as well as those members of the force whose conduct was the subject of adverse comment by the Commission. Wrongful convictions of the public would immediately be annulled. Mr. Stevens added that Judge Markell’s report would be referred to the Crown Solicitor with a view to appropriate further action against any of the police involved in the Royal Commissioner’s report. Judge Markell, in the course of his report, stated: “The inquiry revealed a state of things which will have a very disturbing effect on the mind of the community. The evidence disclosed that members of the public have been convicted of betting offences upon perjured testimony, and that certain police officers and constables have been guilty of conduct unworthy of the trust placed in them by the community.”