THE POLICE COMMISSION.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 338, 8 September 1898, Page 2

THE POLICE COMMISSION.

Thk report and evidence of the Police Commission, whicli consists of 1300 foolscap pages, has been laid on the tabic of the House. The following is a digest of the report : Stre\gth ok Tine Force.—A considerable increase is necessary. Evidence had shown that it lias not been unusual for the number of constables on street duty to be only half the number required. Promotions.—The return of promotions shows that during the years 1891 to 1897 only one constable had been raised to sergeant. In some cases promotion was barred by records on the men's defaulter sheet of trivial offences committed many years before. Inquiries had been conducted in a manner which placed constables at a great disadvantage, and the effect has been to greatly discourage the men. The office of Clerk of Court should not be held by a constable where the number of civil plaints exceed 100 per year. Discipline.—There is considerable want of discipline, which is essential iu a police force. This is probably attribu table to want of efficient supervision by sergeants.

Political Influence.—With regard to the strong feeling which existed in the force, that to secure promotions, or appointments to good stations, it was necessary to have recourse to political influence, the Commissioners go on to say : The influence thus invoked, so far as our inquiries have enabled us to ascertain, has been exercised more frequently with a view to remedy a supposed wrong, or injustice, than to obtain special favour in the way of preferment, and without much success ; but that it has been used with both objects is established by the evidence wo have taken. In no case, however, has it been proved that political services were urged or suggested as a ground for consideration or preferment. In tiie majority of the cases which have come under our notice, the Minister appealed to has replied firmly that the arrangements of the Department could not be altered. In a few cases only the concession asked for was granted. Recent Promotions.—The promotions made during the latter part of last year and the beginning of this year have done much to create a moro contented and hopeful spirit in the force, aud we have no doubt they will tend to destroy the feeling that outside influence is necessary for advancement, It is of the highest importance, in order to secure efficiency and proper discipline, that this feeling should cease to exist, and that the men should realise that promotion depends on their efficiency and on the good opinion of their own officers. But so long as the internal affairs of the force are under personal control of a Minister, it is probable that the influence referred to will be brought to bear upon him. The suggestion that members of the force belonging to the Roman Catholic Church have been specially favoured appears to us to be unsupported by the facts.

Power of thk Commissioner.—The control of the force beina, as we have stated, given to Your Excellency by statute, it becomes a Department under the charge of Your Excellency's Ministers. The effect of this has been, in our opinion, to give rise to the desire, which we have stated exists in the force, to get behind tho officers of the Department to the Ministerial head, and has led to that resort to political influence which has caused so much dissatisfaction to the men and to the executive officers of the Department. It appears scarcely necessary that the attention of a Minister of the Crown should be occupied with the internal arrangements of the police force, and we submit, with all deference, that, in our opinion, the Commissioner of Police, while controlled by the Minister as to expenditure, and responsible to him, should have absolute authority as to all appointments, promotions*, transfers, and dismissals, and as to the distribution of the force. The Commissioner of Police to be entrusted with the powers we are proposing should be a man of police experience, and qualified for the office, and we are of opinion that in the present Commissioner of Police the colony has an officer admirably suited for the position.

Retirements --For the sake of efficiency, it is desirable that constab'es should be compulsorily retired at 60, and Inspectors at 65. Inspector Emerson.—The inquiries made at Napier have satisfied the Commissioners that he is no longer fitted for his office and should be called upon to resign.

Inspector Hickson.—The Commissioners think he also should be called on to resign on the usual retiring allowance. Mention is made of his valuable services in the past, but his age is referred to as having caused him to lose the energy and capacity necessary for the charge of a district like Auckland. Recruiting and Classification.— The establishment of a central training depot in Wellington is recommended. Regarding the system of enrolment it is recommended that the present connection between the permanent artillery and the police force should cease. All applications for enrolment should be made to the Commissioner. The choice of detectives should not be limited to the police force. Promotion should be on thte ground of personal fitness, combined with efficient police service, and not on the ground of seniority. No constable should be appointed sergeant without first having passed an examination. The office of sergeant-major should be abolished. The system of dividing each rank into classes should be abolished. Sergeants and constables should be supplied with uniforms free, and the use of bicycles should be encouraged. Where possible police surgeons should be appointed by the Department at fixed salaries. As to inquiries in connection with the force, provision for the right of appeal is recommendad, evidence on oath to be taken.

Scale ok Pay.—The following rates of pay are recommeuded :—Constables, on joining, 7s a day ; after five years' service, 7s 6d ; after 10 years' service, 8s ; after 15 years' service, Ss 6d ; after 20 years' service, 9s. Sergeants, on appointment, 9s 6d ; after three years' service, 10s ; after six years' service, 10s 6d ; after 12 years' service, lis. Detectives, on appointment, !)s 6d ; after three years' service, 10s 6d ; after six years' service, 12s ; after nine years' service, 133 6d, A special allowance of Is per day should be made to constables employed on plain clothes duty ; district clerks, Is par day in addition to the ordinary police pay. Inspectors, £3OO per annum on appointment, with an increase of £25 for every three years of service, up to a maximum of £4OO. Subinspectors, £250, with an increase of £lO for every three years, up to a maximum ot £2BO. These rates should apply to all the present members of the force as well as to those to come after. An allowance of Ss a week, as house allowance, to married constables, is recommended. Pe>sions.—A scheme for pensions is recommended.

Licensing Laws.—On the question of the efficiency of the force, the Commissioners refer to the difficulty in enforcing the licensing laws, and recommend the amendment of the law to prohibit the supply of liquor during closed hours to guests of a boarder, except with meals, and making all persons found in hotels during prohibited hours, without reasonable excuse, excepting boarders, bonafide travellers, and hotelkeepers' family and employees, liable to a penalty. No facts have come to the knowledge of the Commissioners sufficient, in their opinion, to justify condemnation of the Police Department ia connection with its action in regard to the liquor laws. Individual constables have on occasions neglected their duty, but in all cases brought under

the Commissioners' notice punishment, in some form, followed. The Pur.LiCAy Influence.—On the question of the licensing laws the Commissioners say :— Taking into consideration the difficulties the police have in proving breaches of the licensing laws in licensed houses, we consider they have been fairly successful. It is quite certain that numerous offences under these Acts arc committed, which are not detected, and of which probably many could be detected with more vigilance on the part of the police, but any want of vigilance which may exist, or has existed, cannot, in our opiuiou, be attributed to the heads of the Department We are satisfied that the late Commissioner has done nothing to check men in the performance of their duty in this matter, but, on the contrary, has encouraged vigilance in respect of it. It has been suggested that constables who were energetic in prosecutions against hotelkeepers suffered ; that they, by the influence of those they had prosecuted, had been removed to other stations, and sometimes to less advantageous positions, but the evidence adduced does not establish this. It is true men have been transferred in some cases shortly after such prosecutions, but such removals have been shown to have been generally to the benefit of the constables. Although hotelkeepers have complained of what they thought sharp work on the part of constables, and have threatened to use their influence to get them removed, and although there are several cases in which a strong impression was created in the minds of some members of the force that their removal was in consequence of publicans' influence, yet in no case has it been proved that the removal took place as the result of their action.

Personal Charges.—The Commissioners gave their findings on such complaints as have been brought before them, which they consider require special notice. The Commissioners held most of these charges to be disproved, the principal exception being in the case of Inspector Emerson.