THE POLICE COMMISSION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9887, 18 November 1897, Page 4

THE POLICE COMMISSION.

We cordially agree with the opinion expressed in the House yesterday that Inspector Tunbridge ought not to be a member of the Royal Commission appointed to enquire into the condition and management of the Police Force. As to the statement of the Premier that Inspector Tunbridge himself desired his appointment, all we can say is, that unless Mr. Seddon has once more wandered oft* into one of. those strange lapses of memory which cause his friends so much concern, Inspector Tunbridge shows very strange predilections. If the Commission is to do any good it should sit in judgment not only on Inspector Tunbridge's predecessor in office, but on the Government to which he owes his present appointment. We imagiue that, as a matter of good taste, he would hardly like to act the part of Rhadamanthus towards his predecessor. It is, of course, possible that he is quite prepared to bring the full blaze of his Scotland Yard intellect jto bear upon the Ministry with a view to exposing auy misdoings of which they may have been guilty. We do not say that he would not find full scope for his abilities, and it would be a remarkable case of the engineer hoist with his own petard if the Ministers found themselves detected by the officer whom they imported to detect others. Still, with every admiration for the Inspector's willingness to offer himself up on the altar of the country whose service he has so recently entered, we do not think he should be placed in such an embarrassing position. The Government do not seem happy over the proposed Commission, and are certainly not showing undue haste in getting it to work. When it is set up its'findings will carry no weight with the public unless it is composed of fearless and independent men. It ia not fair to ask Stipendiary Magistrates to undertake the work. No Civil Servant, holding his position at the will of the Government of the day, ought to be asked to sit in judgment on that Government's aots. Many of the Stipendiary Magistrates would act fearlessly enough, but they ought not to be placed in such a position. The present Government have not only refused to make the Magistrates independent of Ministerial influence, but have not scrupled to interfere with them in their functions. If a Commission is to be appointed, virtually to sit in judgment on Ministers, clearly all the members of that Commission ought to be quite free from Ministerial control.