Report of Police Commission.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7933, 23 September 1905, Page 2

Report of Police Commission.

Transfer of Banedin Inspectors' Recoaimended. ADDITIONAL, OFFICER FOK CHIEF CENTItES. AND INCIIEABE IN MEN. \ (Per Press Association.. WEL/EINUTON, Sept. 22 The report of the Jloyal Commission on the Police Force of New Zl.-aluii-d was laid on the itaWlo of 'the House to-day. The Commission in-tjuij-itl—(1) As to -the circumstances of the enrolment in the Police Force of Thomas Moses, and as to the failure of tlio Police - Department to ascertain that prior to such enrolment lie had beeu convicted of an ollence ; (2) as to the causes which ltd to fcho offences committed by certain inelitbcrs of the Police Force in Uunvdrn remaining undetected, and whether any laxity of tdniinistration contributed to sueli' non-detection ; (;t) nerally as to the system of control and supervision exercised by inspectors, su'ljtispectors, and, servants ol the Police Force, find whether proper control ami supervision' have 'been exercised in Dtmedin.

With rey.\rtl to the first matter, the Commission found as follows i—The failure of the Police Department to ascertain that, prior to 'his enrolment, Moses h-a-d been convicted ol offences was due to perfunctory inquiries made by Constable Christie. Bis report was apparently considered sufficient 'by the Department, and no further investigations were (made. The system of inquiries as to the characters of candidates 1 for enrolment should be more complete than at present. ,\Vo understand that inquiries are jjaw more exhaust'ivj»,t-h'an Uheii Moses applied for enrolment. Dates are now required in testimonials, covering practically the life of the candidate from the time el" his leaving school. Even with such precautions -there is no rcsponsi-bili*/ on the persons giving certificates, ami no obligation on them to disclose anyth'hijr known -by them detrimental to the applicant, lie might also have been convicted under a name other than his own, in -a -district where he -had lived for a short

time only. We suggest that every applicant bo reojuired to make a statutory declaration that he -has not, at any time, been convicted of an offence, or if convicted, to supply particulars. Trivial matters, such as breaches of by-laws, shcukl not bar a candidate otherwise qualified, but any conviction for fraud or ■dishonesty should exclude anyone forever I'rcm the Police Force. An ap plicant would have to make a 'declaration, involving severe punishment to him if found to be false, when lie knew permanent records were in existence proving its falsity. While serving in lliiucdin, M'oses was under inspector O'Urien, who, as a dctectivel had arrested him for his second offence. Detective Livingston was also stationed in Duntdiit while Moses was there. Neither of these oflicers recognised him as their former priscner, and so were not to 'ljiamu for not reporting as to 'his previous character.

Willi regard 'to, (i!), thu Coimuissionei's state that the causes which lid to the offences committed by certain numbers <.f t'he "Police Force in Dunedin remaining undetected wero : —(a) No portion of the stolen property was sold or g'iveiv away to any person except to those concerned in the thefts ; Ob) the; 'goods stolen wen: not reported as missing* until shortly before} the , arrest of the thieves. It is ' improbable that thefts will be promptly detected if the thief does not sell or part with the goods stolen, and if the owners of the goods are 'not aware of, or do not report the loss of them. We do net lind that any laxity of administration of the Police Force contributed to such non-detection. The thieves were arrested, and evidence was obtained by the detectives sufiicient to convict 'them within a few days of the goods being ruported as missing. The laxity of administration in Dunedin did, however, in our opinion, give opportunities for the committal of some of the offences of the. ex-constables. As to control and supervision 'generally, the Commissioners wake 'the foflowinj Looking to the fact that it is quite impossible to avoid holding Inspect tor O'[lrion responsible for the Inxily that, to a considerable extent, led to the occurrences in Dunedin, we recoinffliiend that he lw transferred from there without delay, and that an officer be appointed, in his place who may be considered specially qualified to place police matters there on -a proper footing, and carry ■ cut that control ,niid supervision which are essential to the due efficiency of the force ; (2) Asjwc consider that SirVlnspector Greene is also responsible to some extent for the extreme laxity of control and su|«.*rvisiou in Dunedin, we recommend that he also be transferred from there, ami that an officer be appointed in his place who will be likely to be a valti'inble coadjutor to the Inspector in carrying out rigid reforms ; ()J) to secure proper police protection in 'the four centres of population, we recommend that the following additional constables be appointed' :—Dunedin (i, Christchurch (i, Wellington (i, Auckland fi ; (1) with a view to relieve the inspectors and suMnspeCtors of a grout deal of unimportant clerical work, which at present, occupies far too much of their .time, a nit thereby prevents them from' giving a due share of attentien to the supervision of police duty proper, we recommend the appointment of an additional officer at each of the four centres. This officer should have authority over all sergeants and constables, and should lj; specially and carefully selected for tile, very important, anil responsible duties which, iio would be called upon to perform ; (,">) as we consider that it is practically impossible to control and supervise, in the most effective way, the niigitl refiefs as at present ■niTa'ivgv.l, we recommend the appointment of an additional sergeant in each of the four centres for night duly. Thu surj/cst>\l increase to the number's of the force will involve 'but a trifling cost to the colony, which has at present the cheapest force iu Australasia, and Hie additions recoininci'di'd will cost, less than one penny per head of the population.