CRIME-DETECTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 183, 18 May 1939, Page 3

CRIME-DETECTION

APPLICATION OF SCIENCE. PROGRESS IN THE DOMINION. (Special to the “Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, May 17. Rapid strides in the development and expansion ol the New Zealand Police Force over the past lew* years, especially in the application of science to crime detection, were referred to bv the Commissioner of Police (Mr D. J. Cummings), who is visiting Christchurch.

Never before in the history ol the force had such a high standard ol efficiency both in personnel and equipment been attained, said Mr Cummings. Up-to-the-minute equipment had been bought judiciously over the last three years. Elaborate and delicate instruments which had proved their immense value in crime detection overseas ive(c now housed at AVellington headquarters. New instruments for fingerprint work, new cameras for ordinary and micro-photography and now ballistics' instruments had completely modernised the scientific branch of the detective force. Pathologists and Government chemists were of the utmost assistance. Transport had never been better. All the main centres were equipped with fast, high-powered cars —essential in crime detection.

AVido experiments for the establishment of radio-equipped patrol cars were still being carried out by a Government expert. It was a highly technical job, hut it was hoped that shortly the experiments would have readied the stage where a patrol car equipped with radio would be tried out in AVellington. If the experiments were a success and the expense was justified, it was possible that Auckland would be equipped with radio at headquarters' and a radio patrol car. Intensive training of both detectives and uniformed men in scientific crime detection w r as being carried out. Two scientific experts—Senior-Sergeant E. AV. Dinnie (finger-print and photography) and Senior-Sergeant G. G. Kelly (ballistics) had just completed a lecture tour of New Zealand. They had dealt with all the latest developments in scientific detection, addressing officers not only in the main centres', but in places like Oamaru'and the West Coast. Lectures on medicine in its relation to crime were shortly to be organised. It was hoped to arrange for wellknown pathologists and chemists to address members of the force.