THE VICTORIAN DETECTIVE FORCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3614, 10 February 1883, Page 4

THE VICTORIAN DETECTIVE FORCE.

The following are extracts from the report by the ATctorian Police Avhich has thrown the detective service of that colony into a decided ferment : — There have been no complaints against the detectives in the country districts : the inefficiency and deterioration appears to be confined to Melbourne. AVhen Air Nicholson Avorked the city Avith tAvelve men, the detective force Avas in the zenith of its prestige; now, when the officer in charge has sixteen men to do the duty, the department has sunk to a state almost of paralysis, which cannot be explained invay by pointing to the increase iv the number of the population. The appointment of plain-clothes _ constables engendered a spirit of hostile rivalry between the detectives and the general police. The evil does not appear to have beat felt until Air Secret an took charge of the detectives, and Air AViuch Avas appointed superintendent of tho city. These officers did not work iv harmony ; the men under them imitated their example, until such was the jealousy existing that, as stated by one witness, the detectives would prefer allowing a criminal to escape rather than that the members of the general force should acquire the credit of affecting his arrest. The inferiority of the men applying for admission to the "detective force has possibly much to do with its present ineffectiveness. 1 1 seems difficult, on the principle of dcmand_ and supply, to explain why a better class of men are not obtainable. The emploA-ment of criminals seems to be the distinguishing characteristic of the system pursued by A r ictorian detectives in recovering stolen * property and bringing offenders to justice. AVithout the questionable aid of these auxiliaries^ the detectives appear, even in the most ordinary cases, to be comparatively helpless. The principle of utilising criminals is admitted by all authorities on the subject to be a dangerous one. There is always a temptation to push the system to an'extreme, and to use criminal agents as decoys. The technical appellation for such persons is "fiz-gig." A " fiz-gig ' is paid to start the prey, wliich the expectant detective captures without trouble or inconvenience (elite p. 31-5, q. 7,091). He is supposed to receive not only a subsidy from the detective avlio employs him, but a share in the reAvard, and a certain immunity from arrest for offences with Avhieh he _ may be chargeable. Ho may plan robberies and induce incipient crinunals to co-operate, but provided he lures the latter successfully into the detectives' hands, his whereabouts and antecedents are not supposed to be knoAvn to the police. Should he be found kicking in industry, proving false to his employers, or arousing suspicion as to the precipe nature "of his avocations, a prosecution is set on foot: but the case against the •* fiz-gig''' usually breaks dowm or if be should be convicted, a mitigation of his sentence is obtained on the ground of his usefulness to the department. Such a system is manifestly un-English, and opposed to OA-ery principle of honor and fair play. It scTA-es on the one hand to manufacture criminals, and on the other it induces detectives to rely less upon their own intelligence, skill, and experience than upon the secret information conveyed to them through a tainted source. No doubt tit times it may be necessary for the ends of justice that criminals 'should be paid to assist the authorities, but extreme care should be taken to prevent an abuse of the system. Inspector Dowdell (Scotland Yard detective force, when under examination, showed that the officers of the Criminal InvesligationDepartmcut in London arc quite alive to the danger arising from the general and promiscuous use of criminals in tracing offenders. That there is no secret service fund in this colony, and that detectives are compelled to pay criminals out of their own salaries, are facts by no means reassuring. One detective declared that although he was in the receipt of fifteen shillings a day he Avas Avorse off than an ordinary constable. Other detectives examined appear to entertain a similar opinion, the inevitable inference being their incomes Avere supplemented. That " tiz-gigs " have been recognised agents, aud that " put-up "' cases have not been uncommon iv connection Avith the detective department is a conclusion that to the minds of your Commissioners appears unavoidable. The folloAving are .some of the recommendations made by the Commission : — That the detective force, as at present constituted, be immediately disbanded, and, as far impracticable, be merged into the general police. That in lieu of the present detective system, plain-clothes constables be employed, supplemented by a limited number of private agents, Avhoso services shall only be utilised in the discovery of the more important crimes. That the Cluef Commissioner shall have the direct supervision and control of the plain-clothes corps, and be charged Avith the duty of their organisation for the purposes of ii criminal investigation branch of the service. That plain-clothes police and members of the general force under no circumstances be alloAved personally to engage or pay for the assistance given by criminals in the arrest of offenders or tlierectvery of stolen property. That every encouragement be given fo intelligent, energetic, and educated members of the general police to volunteer for plain-clothes'"constables' duty: and that men employed in this branch of the service receive an extra rate of pay. That if, after ti fair trial, any plain-clothes constables be found inefficient, or their conduct unsatisfactory, they shall be re-trans-ferred to the uniform police. That Inspector Sccretan be called on to retire from the force, without prejudice to any claims for compensation or retiring alloAvanee to Avhich, by reason of servi«;<-, he nun' have become, entitled.