POLICE RECORD GOOD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 30 November 1933, Page 9

POLICE RECORD GOOD

COMMISSIONER’S REPLY TO CRITICISM ■■ : ' i - . " “ I FIGURES FOR LAST YEAR j A reply to the criticism of police methods in Now Zealand made by Miss B. E. Baughan at the annual meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Howard League for Penal Reform was given by the Commissioner of Police, Mr W. G. Wohlmann, in an interview with “Tlic Dominion.” Miss Baughan had advocated the establishment of a criminal investigation department, the use of dogs to assist in the detection of crime, as well as criticising the police force generally. „ “The • statistics of crime in New Zealand do not bear out the criticism of the New Zealand police force,” the Commissioner said. “The percentage of arrests to offences reported last year was 90.49 per cent. It would be interesting to learn of a force with a higher percentage. SUSPENDING JUDGMENT' “Regarding two recent murder cases to which she refers, would it not be wise, and perhaps even fair, to first await evidence of failure before pronouncing judgment? “Apropos of a C.1.D.,” the Commissioner continued, “the trial of many important cases of crime in this Dominion has disclosed detective work of a quality sufficiently high to draw favourable comment from even the highly organised force which has been referred to as a pattern. This comment has come from men who know.” In regard to undetected murders, Mr Wohlmann pointed out that last year 15 murders were committed and 13 arrests were made. The other two cases were the casting away of infants —an extremely difficult crime to detect. The Commissioner admitted that it would be helpful to have high-powered motor cars and wireless sets as they did in other countries, and if another £20,000 a year were given to the police it might lie possible tdo something in that direction. But what would the taxpayer say about it* he asked. SPECIAL FEATURES There were features in New Zealand crime which had to be considered. Miss Baughan was placing the Dominion on the same footing as countries with populations vastly larger. It should also be remembered that New Zealand did not have to deal wiht the international criminal, and even the Australian criminal was not a menace here. As to the use of dogs, the Conunismissioner stated that a pair of bloodhounds—the only suitable type—would cost £IOOO, and, in addition to that, there was the upkeep and expense of a trainer. He concluded that there was insufficient scope to warrant the carrying out of the suggestions made by Miss Baugliam.