INTERNATIONAL CRIME

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1930, Page 3

INTERNATIONAL CRIME

POWERS TAKE JOINT ACTION.

LONDON, March 23

The Sunday Times understands that an important step with regard to America’s co-operation in European matters has just been decided upon. Following the recent announcement of the tripartite pact against international crime concluded between Great Britain, France and Germany, it is learned that the majority of the other European nations have expressed their wish to join in the scheme and that the United States has .also signified it's willingness to take part. The Argentine and several of the other South American republics have replied in a similar sense to the Home Office inquiry, and it is expected that the rest will follow suit. The arrangements between France, Germany, and Great Britain, provide fob an exchange of police between the three capitals. It is now proposed, in addition, that there shall be a mobile force of detectives continually traversing various routes, concentrating attention upon all forms .of .international crime and in touch with their own representatives at the various police headquarters.

These will be given technical powers of arrest in whichever country they may be, so that they mity detain and hand over a suspect to its own police force in order that he may be tried without further delay if the offence for which he is wanted occurred in that country.

, While practically every country will have its own police at Scotland Yard •and American officers will be in continual touch with the Yard and will be ..traversing dn*the Continent, so far they will not be definitely attached to London or to any other Continental capital. Negotiations have been on foot for some time past for a revision of the existing extradition . arrangements, and for this new plan to have any success such revision is regarded as absolutely necessary. In the case of Italy the matter is still under discussion, but it is known that the chief Italian police experts have advised Signor Mussolini to apply for entry to the scheme for which new conditions in regard to extradition are laid down. In this connection, the arrest of Gialdini is considered a highly favourable sign. In League of Nations circles, it is believed that the scheme of international police co-operation will lead to the formation of an international force under the aegis of the League itself. It is pointed out that the question of political police and political intrigue can only be solved by the appointment of some central authority. In connection with each police headquarters a bureau will be set up for the reception, filing and distribution of particulars of international criminals and information generally. Proposals are also being considered for linking-up the, various police headquarters by means of wireless.