SCHOOL INTERVIEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 207, 2 September 1936, Page 8

SCHOOL INTERVIEWS.

POLICE OFFICER'S ACT.

I COMPLAINT BY COMMITTEE. Suggesting that a serious breach of privilege had been committed, the Drury , school committee reported, in a letter received at to-day's meeting of the Auckland Education Board, that a police officer had interviewed children during school hours, without any teacher or adult being present, and required a girl pupil, aged 12 years, to sign a statement. The child had subsequently received a summons to appear in Court on September 7. "This matter was taken up with the previous Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wohlmann." stated the secretary, Mr. D. W. Dunlop. "As a result, a circular was issued to head teachers stating that the board had granted permission for police officers to interview children at schools, provided in every case that the officer was in plain clothes r :d the interview took place in the presence of the head teacher, and preferably in his private room." On the motion of the chairman, Mr. T. U. Wells, the board decided to refer the matter to the present Commissioner of Police, drawing his attention to tho> arrangement entered into with his predecessor, and asking him to draw the attention of his officers to it.