Policemen ‘need wider powers’

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 9

Policemen ‘need wider powers’

NZPA-Reuter London Britain's top policeman has renewed his call for sweeping police powers to help combat the country’s rising crime rate. London's police commissioner (Sir David McNee), appearing in a television interview, said that British police officers had their hands tied behind their backs and he did not want his officers to have to do their duty by bluff, stealth, or force. Sir David set off a storm of protest from civil-rights’ activists early this month when he submitted proposals for extensive new police powers to the Royal Commission on criminal procedure. Among the new powers Sir David requested were that police be given the right to stop and search any suspects, to detain suspects for up to 72 hours before bringing charges, and the widespread use of computers for keeping records. The commissioner said on TV: “I don’t want a police State, but I’m certain I speak for the majority of society when I say I don't want a society ruled by criminals. We want a balance in the middle somewhere.” Sir David said that the number of solved crimes in

London had declined to only 21 per cent of those committed. He said that the most i alarming figures were for! juvenile crime, with children! in the 10-to-16 age group! accounting for 29 per cent of! arrests for serious crime. He said that that figure; rose to 51 per cent in Lon-I don if people up to the age I of 21 were included. Asked about the potential I danger to civil liberties from! his requests, Sir David re-! plied: “I would defend a man’s civil liberties, but what j good is an excess of liberty I if individuals are afraid to leave their homes or w’alk the; streets?”