COMMON INFORMERS

Evening Star, Issue 12927, 25 September 1906, Page 2

COMMON INFORMERS

TO THK EDITOR. Sit,—Will yon permit me drawing the ofcUmtion of the Hon. the Minister of Justice to tie following facte .- —Section 49, Justice of the Peace Act, 1882, is as follows: "Every person who aids, assists, counsels, of procures the commission of any offenco punishable on summary conviction shall be liable to be proceeded against and convicted for tie same. . . ." When a policeman—-superior officer or otherwiseis sworn to his office he sweats to uphold both common (of what little remains) law and statutory law. This being the case, why is the officer instructed to break the law he has sworn to maintain, and by what authority does the Hon. the Minister grant this judicial dispensation? Over and over again Judges and magistrates have denounced the practice of the policeman playing tie role of common informer. In tie end, it tends to demoralisation, and the public lose confidence in their guardians. The office of a "common informer" is, unfortunately, accepted, but the.duties are wholly outside a police officer's functions. Instances have been known where police have refused to play the role, and such refusal has bren upheld. It has only been sanctioned in Kew Zealand in recent years. If the Hon. the Minister desires—and I am confident he does—an efficiently-organised force, may on<s respectfully suggest an immediate Circular to discontinue the practice? Fiducial silence alone forbids further amplification of its dangers.^—l j»m, etc.^ FrKde. Ma£LAkd. September 24.