THE DETECTIVE FORCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 193, 15 August 1889, Page 2

THE DETECTIVE FORCE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I had purposed writing you earlier, but circumstances have prevented, re "police report" presented to both Houses of Parliament as per your paper of the 7th inst., respecting one paragraph in particular, headed "Detective System." The Commissioner states in his report that "our detective system is shown to be very unsatisfactory, for although there are many good officers in that branch of the service there are,also many useless men. To remedy this, theCommissionersuggeststhat instead of appointing a man for lit'o a detective, as is practically donenow, in future men should be simply employed as plain -clothes constables, receiving detective allowance whilst so employed, as by this means ho considers we ehould obtain all the advantages of the detective system without its defects. Now, sir, if we have so many ueeless men in that service as the Commissioner seems to indicate, why not call upon those men to re?ign, or reduce them to the ordinary ranks ? Surely ho can find others "more suitable to take their place ! It is impossible to malct a man a detective. He must become that through natural ability. I—from some 15-years' service in the London detective foree —never heard of a man being appointed for life, bub, as a rule, he is employed firstly on plain - clothes duties, . and if found suitable is promoted to detective sergeant, but ehould he misconduct himself, would be subject to dismissal as any ordinary man. ]n the London police force there is a fund for police rewards. Why not the same here ? 'It is v great eticouragement to stimulate proficiency in any branch. The judges in superior courts- have also power to order rewards for meritorious conduct, and if you want a detective force of a superior kind something of this description should be done here.—l am, etc., C.J.C.