POLICE METHODS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 May 1928, Page 9

POLICE METHODS

TREATMENT OF WITNESS.

QUESTION IN THE COMMONS,

HOME SECRETARY’S STATEMENT

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATIONUNITED SERVICE.) Received May 18, 2.15 p.m. LONrtON, May 17.

The Home Secretary, Sir \Vililam Joynson Hicks, in answer to Mr Johnston’s question, said that after an investigation of all material, he had rexerrecl to the. Public Prosecutor the question w r hether the constables in Sir Money’s ease was guilty oi giving false evidence. Tne Director ox Public Prosecutions reported that following the normal procedure a statement was taken from Miss Savage simply in her capacity as a witness. iiVir Johnston: ‘‘Are you aware the girl was rev used permission to go home oeiore being questioned; that she was repeatedly warned that she must not tell anyone that she iiad been to Scotland Yard or had made a statement. A woman police officer was removed xroni tne room while the third degree methods were used.” Sir william Joynson Hicks: “An inspector saw Miss ibavage at two o’ciocic in tne aiternoon. She was taken to Scotland Yard in a motor car oy a woman inspector and given tea. tier mother was telephoned and tolu chat there was no cause ror anxiety, the girl was taken home at eight oclock.’ Cries of “shame,” “disgraceful.” Sir William Joynson Hicks: “1 have been given ail the information obtained from the Director oi i/rosecutions. j t certainly- was not aware that the girl minted.” Mr Ramsay MacDonald: “Do you think this method of getting evidence), ot handling witnesses is a step lor which you are not responsible, whether done by the director of prosecutions or anyone else F” Mr William Joynson Hicks: “I recognise that if the police, at anyone & instructions, acted wrongly towards the girl, I -ant ultimately responsible, at the same time, i do not desire to prejudice action by an independent ollicer like the Director of Prosecutions. I promise the fullest investigations into the allegations.”

RECENT HYDE PARK INCIDENT

CROSS-EXAMINATION OF GIRL

LONDON, May 17

Notice that he would ask the Home Secretary whether he was aw r are that two police officers called at the place- of business of Miss Savage on Tuesday, and, without affording her an opportunity to communicate with her parents or legal advisers, motored her to Scotland Yard, where she was questioned for five hours in connection with the inquiry which is being held into the ease in which Sir Leo Ghiozza Money was charged with indecency in Efyde Park, was given by Mr. Tom Johnston, a Labour member, in the House of Commons to-day. ' Miss'Savage’s father told the “Daily Express” it was true that the police called at the firm where his daughter was employed and asked her to go to Scotland Yard, where she was detained for five hours, during which a- short cro-ss-examination occurred. For this she was not prepared. He was not ready to disclose details as the matter was in the hands of the family’s solicitors.