The Hawera Star. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1925. SCOTLAND YARD METHODS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 25 May 1928, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1925. SCOTLAND YARD METHODS.

Delivered every evening b.v 5 Hawera Manaio. Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltbam. MaDgatoki. Kaponga. Alton, Hurleyville Patea. Waverlev, Mokoia. Whakamara. Ohangai, Meremere. Fraser Road, and A rare la •

The .uneasiness' which has been manifested at Home since charges' of the employment, of “third degree ’ methods have been made in the House of Commons' against Scotland Yard, will spread to every part of the Empire and New Zealanders will await with scarcely less anxiety than the people of England the news that they have been- proved- to be without foundation, or that rigorous steps have been taken to wipe out such a blot on the name, of British justice as they imply. Scotland Yard, though it is a separate . entity in the police 6tganisafcion of England, is looked upon almost as a national institution. It does not function outside England unless (specially called in to assist the local -police, but Englishmen in all parts of the Empire "watch its work, with interest and with pride, for it has- built up a tradition of thoroughness and fair play which has long appealed) to- -the popular imagination. Charges against the police should -be very carefully investigated before they are taken too seriously, and it may be added that, they are invariably -sifted- to t-lio bottom by the -authorities before action is taken. Some of the reasons for deliberate action in this regard are obvious, but there are others which make the political heads of departments in control of the force doubly careful. Only the police themselves- -probably realise the isolated position they occupy in the public gaze. They know that theoretically, at any rate, they aTe regarded as the friends of the public—the preservers- of 1-aw and order and the- strong arm to -which the individual in fear of violence may turn, for protection. On the other hand, they know, as- the result of many years of -experience, that the public is extremely fickle and- will just as readily turn and rend the force that protects them from .the cradle to the grave as -give it praise and thanks for its work. This is exemplified every day, even in. New Zealand. When a tragedy -occurs, it is t-he police who are summoned; when there is reason to believe that a malefactor is hiding in darkened -premises' ,it, is the policeman who is called upon, to take his life in his hands and investigate; when there are sights foul and horrible to be revealed ,it. is an officer of the law who has to go in first. But when; some criminal whose bad record is known far a-nd wide, makes a charge against the police, there is always a. large section of the -public willing to lend an. attentive ear and to give a verdict in his favour long before there has -been time for investigation or explanation. An example of the inconsistency of the sentimental public is seen when an officer of the law is in need of moral or physical support in a street arrest; in many cases the sympathy of the onlookers is with the civilian- who is giving the trouble —and those same onlookers would think nothing of calling upon the man. in blue to protect them were they

assailed by the same, ruffian. However | it is human to' err, and the police axe j fully alive to the strong as well as the j weak points in their fellow men. When j all allowances have ibeen made for the tendency of the public to judge hysterically and unjustly, it has to be admitted that enough has been said by persons in high and responsible places to justify the uneasiness with which the public in England is regarding the charges under review. The hands of those who are demanding, and have been promised, the fullest investigation, have, boon strengthened by the suspicion that has 1 been growing during the last three or four years - that all is not so above board at Scotland Yard as it might be. There have been at least two outstanding cases within recent years | proving that the police have carried their '“get. your man” slogan too far, and some startling revelations were made at. the time. One paper of unquestionable standing in London definitely stated that “there is not the slightest doubt that blackmail is common in the London police force.’’ Sir William Joynson-Hicks, as Home Secretary, is the Minister responsible to Parliament and the public, and - ho has promised an inquiry into the allegations, but the public will remember that he was Home Secretary in 1925 when it was startled out of its usual calm by the revelations referred to, and - it is evident that public opinion will not be satisfied with anything less than the strictest investigation, irrespective of any consideration for reputations which may suffer in the process.