VICTORIAN POLICE FORCE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21973, 23 December 1936, Page 5

VICTORIAN POLICE FORCE

STRONG CRITICISM REPORT OF SCOTLAND YARD INSPECTOR MELBOURNE, December 22. Strong criticism of the general administration of the Victorian Police Force, together with farreaching recommendations for drastic alterations in itr methods, is contained in the interim report of Chief Inspector Alexander Duncan of Scotland Yard, who was appointed to enquire into and report on proposals for the reorganisation of the Police Department. “I find that there is a grave lack of supervision by superiors of the work performed by members of the Criminal Investigation Branch,” he states. “In fact I go so far as to say there is no supervision at all. There is grave neglect or indifference regarding prompt attention to requests from members of the public for the services of members of the Criminal Investigation Branch. I find no reasonable explanation in the majority of cases for the delay in commencing investigations into alleged crime.” Chief Inspector Duncan recommended, among other things, the abolition of the plain clothes branch, certain members to be absorbed in the Criminal Investigation Branch, and the remainder to be returned to uniform duty.