WORK OF THE POLICE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1929, Page 10

WORK OF THE POLICE

SUGGESTED INQUIRY

EDITORIAL COMMENT

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day

. Commenting editorially on the Coroner's finding on the Elsie Walker in* quest, , the "New Zealand Herald" states: "The Superintendent of Police would'be well advised to carry out the suggestion of the inquiry concerning the methods of the police in handling the case. The hint of uncertainty'- in the interpretation: of the- regulations suggests a ground for a more general inquiry. It is surely against com-mon-sense that casual witnesses and a constable should be the- onlyones to see the body discovered in such circumstances before it was disturbed. If the regulations allow that, then their adequacy should be questioned. More than that, since there were plain hints of divergent views among the police officers about' this inquiry the proposed invesigations might bo still wider in its scope. The staffing organisation and the spirit of the force could also bo examined. ■

'It is no secret that there is a restiveuess and discontent in the service. Attention should be drawn to the too pernicious system that has grown up in. recent years of cloaking everything possible the police are doing with all tho secrecy that can be secured. There arc occasions when publicity cannot be given police activities or the details of the cases they aro handling, there are others where publicity would be n great ally. Instances could be quoted in which valuable evidence ha? been, volunteered because the people offering it realised that tho information was valuable. The police have tended in recent yc«irs to conceal what they did not wish known'by concealing all they could. It has often hampered them and has not helped to inspire the .public with confidence in their doings.''-