ON THE CRIMINAL’S TRACK

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 88, 12 January 1928, Page 16

ON THE CRIMINAL’S TRACK

DAY’S WORK OF A LONDON DETECTIVE Although a detective’s normal tour of duty consists of eight hours daily, he never knows what the day has in store for him when he begins work. He may have no break in the 24 hours except for meals (writes an “Ex-Detective” in the “Daily Mail”). The detective begins the day at the detective office by becoming conversant with what has happened since his last tour of duty. “Informations,” Scotland Yard’s daily "newspaper,” contains reports of crimes up to the previous evening, the telegraph book records the night’s important messages, and the “Police Gazette,” published' weekly, prints the photographs and histories of suspects wanted mainly by the provincial police. The next move—apart from Scotland •Yard—rests with the “D.D.1.” (divisional detective inspector). This officer is the senior detective of each of the 23 divisions' On him rests the responsibility for the efficient working of his staff. His word is law, and in times of stress he gives the signal for a brief cessation of work. He is in constant touch with his subordinates. If' crime is slack a detective has a fcur-hours break in the middle pl his eight hours, and when he resumes duty in the evening he must be prepared for the unexpected happening in the night life of London. A crime may occur, a person is suspected, and the “D.D.l.’s” “Go put and find him” means either an arrest or an anxious night of search. It is not enough for a detective to know the “crooks” of his district. Their 'habits, associates, and resorts must be an open book to him, and the law-abiding citizen would be amazed were he allowed to accompany the experienced detective to the places he searches for a wanted man. Ways and means of his own tell him if he is close to his quarry. There are hundreds of people in every division who bear spotless reputations to everyone except the detective. The motto of “Open ears and a shut mouth” brings the detective much. He knows the man who is a crook clever enough to keep clear of prison bars, but who prospers on crime. Receivers of stolen property are hard to capture, but easy to know. It is the ambition of every detective to capture a “good” man. “Good” men gain the title because of their criminal skill. Once I sent a receiver to penal servitude. All my colleagues had known he was a crook for years, and it was my luck to capture him when he stumbled. An unsolved murder means sleepless nights for many detectives. All kinds of clues flow into the police station, and every one must be probed to the bottom. A-ration allowance is the only award for extended hours of duty. A detective is liable to be called from bed at any hour. The uniformed police are summoned to the scene of an important robbery or a murder case, but when anything conies under the heading “Crime” the Criminal Investigation Department take over the job. In a sudden emergency -he may be sent to the provinces without warning. He may not Fee his hotne for days or weeks. A colleague notifies his family. His colleagues at Scotland Yard work in squads under a chief inspector, and a great deal of their work is performed on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Complicated fraud cases and suspicious deaths mean many journeys to the provinces, Ireland, Scotland, and often to the Dominions. The fraudulent bankrupt is well looked after by Scotland Yard, City of London cases conn within’its ken, for although the City is outside the Metropolitan area, the Bankruptcy Court is not. „ The wireless-equipped motor-vans of the Flying Squad are always ready for instant use. A flash to Scotland Yard from any police station ends a car’s roving and sends it speeding to a fixed destination.