GUNMEN IN SYDNEY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 100, 30 April 1945, Page 6

GUNMEN IN SYDNEY

MORE POWERS SOUGHT

POLICE REPRESENTATIONS

O.C. : SYDNEY,, April 1* The New South Wales Cofnmissione: of Police, Mr. W. J. MacKay, has asked the State Government to amend present regulations to increase penalties for persons convicted,of having unlicensed firearms. Additional police powjers, he claims, will also be needed to deal with the criminal lawlessness which has broken out in Sydney and is expected to increase after the war.

The £12,000 Cockatoo Dock payroll robbery was a grim sample of what may be expected from now on, the police said. It was the first time that a sub-machine-gun had been used in an Australian crime, but was unlikely to be the last. Already the police had recovered 10 such stolen weapons, but suspected that scores of others were in unauthorised hands. The guns were stolen from dump's in northern battle areas and sold in Sydney's underworld for £50 to £100 each. Criminals who had thrived on the black market considered them a sound investment for future operations, or better than revolvers for defence against "hijackers" or "stand-over" men.

Under the New South Wales Pistol Licence Act persons having in their possession unlicensed firearms are liable to the following penalties:—After 7 a.m. and up to 7 p.m., a fine not exceding £100. After 7 p.m. and up to 7 a.m., a fine not exceeding £100 and imprisonment for two years. The State Parliament has already passed a law prohibiting persons from having machine-guns or sub-machine-guns in their possession, but the penalty is only six months' gaol. Mr. MacKay has suggested that the penalties for the unauthorised possession of these weapons be increased and that power be given to the police to enter premises in search of firearms without a warrant. DWINDLING POLICE STRENGTH. The president of the New South Wales Police Association, Sergeant J. V. Driscoll, stated at the Opening of the association's annual conference that the lives of police and the public were in greater jeopardy than at any time previoulsy.. Illegal use of firearms in Sydney had. grown to alarming proportions and a number, of police lives had recently been lost or endangered through wanton shooting. "We find that firearms, possibly because of the war, have been placed in the hands of a large number of persons who should not possess them," Sergeant Driscoll added. "If the man-power gates' are not thrown open to the Police Force: very soon we will be 1000 men short of requirements. There is discontent in the police service because of inadequacy of pay. Employees in industry are remunerated far more generously than are members of the Police Force, who frequently have greater responsibilities towards the community than other more highlypaid citizens. I have no doubt that hundreds of'members are prepared to leave the service to see what they can get in outside positions." ~ The association decided to press for additional pay of 4d an hour for police on duty between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.