MELBOURNE POLICE

Evening Star, Issue 18807, 4 December 1924, Page 12

MELBOURNE POLICE

CONDITIONS BEFORE STRIKE. REMARKABLE DISCLOSURES. Giving evidence in Melbourne the other day before (he Royal Commission that is inquiring into the circumstances of the police strike there last year, the Chid Commissioner of Police, Mr Nicholson, said that early in his career he had been awarded the Valor badge for arresting a man who had shot him four times. Strong roi'.sons for instituting tlio police supervisors were advanced by Mr Nicholson. "1 saw inch idling about the streets, leaning against lamp-posts, gossiping, and actually smoking in uniform in daylight, lie said. “At night I saw them drunk. I repeatedly travelled in the Melbourne district and in the suburbs fur long distances without seeing a sign of a constable. There wore many burglaries, housebreakings, and shopbreakings, and only very rarely did the police know anything about them until the owners __ reported the olfences next morning. Even when front doors in main streets wore broken in the police never found them.” Continuing, Mr Nicholson said that very serious offences wore being committed by police constables themselves. One constable was found in uniform in a warehouse, having broken in with the watchman. Another constable was found in possession of stolen properly. Two other constables, said Mr Nicholson, went to Wcrribcc in the motor car of a notorious criminal. The car was insured for three times its value. While at Wcrribec they went a little distance away from the car, and it went up in flames. Those two constables sent a report direct to the insurance company, histead of through their officer, certifying that the fire, was genuine. The genuineness of llie fire was very much questioned, and Mr Nicholson directed an investigation. 'The two constables were suspended and fined heavily. The criminal with whom thev went to Werribcc was an associate of “ fsauizzy ” Taylor, and used to drive him about. “One night,” continued the witness, “I went into Cobb’s Cafe, Bourke street, about 1 o'clock. Two constables in uniform entered. 'Flic woman who was serving took out a piece of paper, and asked ‘ What ;iro your numbers?’ They told her, and she said; ‘Another one came in hero a little while ago, and I gave him his supper. You must have a very good, senior constable to let yon come in here when you like.’ The constable said: ‘ Yes, Vvo have a bonzer. Ho lots us do what' we like.’ They added : ‘ But our Chic! Commissioner is a. .’ In fact, they called me everything that was bad. They did not recognise me, although 1 was' sitting quite close to them. 1 took no action against the men, because I did not make myself known us soon ns they came in. I did not want to take a moan advantage, in the circumstances, 1 forgot the incident officially, and remembered it only for personal guidance,” “NOT IN MY DISTRICT.” “Another serious type of offence,” said Mr Nicholson, “ was being committed by constables at stations who refused to act on complaints, on the ground that the offence was not committed in their district. Tlio constables would reply ; ‘That is not in my district,’ and hang up the telephone. I punished men severely for that offence. On one occasion in St. Kilda a woman saw a number of men entering her house. One of the men was in police uniform. The woman became exI cited, and asked the telephone exchange ; for Windsor, hut was connected with i Prahran. She said: ‘ There are burglars iin 'my house. Come at once.’ The constable said: ‘ That is not in my district; ; „p St. Kilda.' She said; ‘I cannot. | The burglars arc in my house now.’ The constable took no further notice. I ■* Rater, when warned by a plninI dollies constable that ho would get into I trouble, the constable rang up St.‘ Kilda, I but (rave them the wrong address. When tlie °St. Kilda police finally found the house, the burglars had been gone seven minutes. If the constable had taken proper action at the outset the burglars would have boon caught red-handed. Complaints made about the police by citizens were mostly found to be authentic and well founded. I decided that only strict supervision could correct this laxity.”