SCIENCE v. CRIME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 135, 8 May 1933, Page 6

SCIENCE v. CRIME.

Important changes in the character and organisation of the Metropolitan Tolice Eorce are foreshadowed in the annual report of the Commissioner, Lord Trenchard, who stresses the need for a higher .standard of Entrance examination for candidates seeking to join. The idea that too much mental development is likely to make a policeman di*> eoutenteil with his work is discounted as obsolete by the Commissioner, who points out that the best brains are needed for the highest posts, as the criminal is becoming more skilful, mobile and scientific. It is not in industry, aviation and . warfare alone that scientific development has made tremendous strides within the past few years. Indeed, there are men who have grown into criminals because of their knowledge of science as applied to a high degree of lawbreaking, ami it is these with whom the authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to deal. The old conception that a policeman is one who stops a fight or assists little children across busy traffic streets has gone. To-day, the resourcefulness of the constable is the measure of his prospects for advancement, but it the initial test of intelligence is not brought up-to-date those directing ttie prevention and detection of scientific crimes cannot have available the necessary material from which to choose the higher executive officers. The Metropolitan Police Eorce numbers twenty thousand men, but it has been shown repeatedly that there is no barrier to promotion except lack of higher intelligence. There are men occupying posts as chief constables of cities and counties in England who a decade ago had not joined the force but who, by diligence and resourcefulness, and by adapting themselves ihoroiurhly to police and detective work, haw made their way to ! the front in their chosen vocation. Such men, however, are few and far between. Smash-and-grab raiders, "gentlemen" criminals. confidence men. "long firm" and insurance fraud experts. straight-out jewel thieves, blackmailers and others to whom the police are‘anathema have in their ranks to-day men who have become specialists in their branches of crime. The mutiny at Dartmoor Prison some time ago : revealed that there were forces outside with some of the best brains of the country aiding the . criminals. Only by police methods i and policemen being brought up- : to-date can such rogues be : thwarted, and the recent growth of crime m the Metropolis itself : can be e xpecied TO lead to fulfilment of the Commissioner's promise. Steps have been taken to

deal with the swift moving gangs in the city area by the training and equipping of mobile squads of police: special officers assisted by civil scientists are devoting their services to the development of crime detection: and special branches of Scotland Yard have been organised to deal with every new phase of lawbreaking as it arises. But there cannot be a full measure of success for such methods unless the ground work of crime prevention and detection is in capable hands. The responsibility resting upon the police officer of the modem city demands a high degree ct intelligence.