CRIME LABORATORY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 42, 17 January 1935, Page 9

CRIME LABORATORY.

help foe detectives. Scotland Yard detectives have for lonv been victims of an inferiority comn'ex (says a London commentator). They blushed to think that many ot their provincial colleagues ot the conntv police forces had the advantage o them in scientific facilities—the advantage of being able to clear up mysterious crl ™ es without calling in outside experts ISor did the country sleuths neglect to boast of their superiority in this respect, in the quaint but expressive words ot our American cousins, they told the world” about it in accents so loud that the newspapers echoed them. This somewhat galling situation is now, however, to be remedied. Ihe “Yard” is in the near future to have full use of a scientific “crime laboratory.” to he established at the I dice College at Hendon, where bright young men are learning how to take commissioned rank in a single stride. In an official statement issued by Eord Trenchard, it is disclosed that Dr James Davidson, of the pathological department of Edinburgh Lniversitv, will “take charge.” In fact, he. is to join the Metropolitan Police Force almost immediately, and will set about the organisation of the new department without delay. The move is rightly considered as one of the most important innovations of recent times. There was naturally some surprise in London that Sir Bernard Spilsbury did not receive the appointment, but, as it happens the post was offered to him, and refused. Sir Bernard, whose scientific evidence lias sent many murderers to their just doom, has almost more than lie can do to cope with his work for London’s coroners and for the Home Office. He is described as the busiest man in the world by those who do not envy him his industry as much as his skill as a pathologist. Literally, this may be an exaggeration, but there are few men in England, at nil events, whose services are so constantly and urgently in demand.

The functions of a “crime laboratory” are now as necessary to modem police efficiency as are those of a medical laboratory to an up-to-date hospital. Too often,'in the past, detectives have construed cases ns murder when they were cases of accident and vice-versa, to the cost and indignation of everybody concerned. A criminal pathologist, in such instances, could have decided on the spot. Only the other day we had an example of an alleged murder which, after a lot of fuss at Scotland Yard, was pronounced by Sir Bernard Spi'sbury (when at last he was called in) to be no crime at all. Dr Davidson is regarded as one of the most brilliant pathologists in Great Britain, and there is no doubt his cooperation as a regular official will be of immense value to the Metropolitan Police, whose general proficiency is second to none.