POLICE AND THE PUBLIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20075, 12 October 1928, Page 13

POLICE AND THE PUBLIC.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.

MUTUAL CONFIDENCE URGED.

REMOVAL OF SUSPICION.

SOCIAL FABRIC IMPERILLED.

Australian Press Association—United Slerricei LONDON. Oct. 10.

The first sitting of tho Police Commission was held to-day, Viscount Leo presiding.

Tho chairman, in opening tho proceedings, said their main effort must be to restore mutual confidence between tho police and the public. Hitherto that had been a striking and happy feature of the national organisation and the absence of it would undermine, even gravely imperil, tho basos of tho social fabric. Lord Leo said they would not endeavour to restore confidence in the police by " whitewashing" them, but by the discovery and removal of any causes of friction or complaint, always remembering that law-abiders did not wish to see tho police discredited. In any caso the diminution of confidence about which much had been said eras possibly exaggerated. Tho Commission was not trying tho police, nor was it reopening recent notorious cases which had already been nettled in tho Courts.

A questionnaire had been sent to Judges, Government Departments and the police throughout tho country. Other individuals and associations would be invited to reply to it. Witnesses would be selected after the perusal of the replies. Sir Ernley Blackwell, legal assistant to the Under-Secretary, Home Office, was the first witness. He advocated a police-man's oath as a King's officer, and that general instructions should be standardised throughout the country. At tho same time, lie 6aid, tho Homo Secretary, Sir William Joynson-Hicks, did not believe in too precise regulations. He expected the police to exercise discretion. Witness expressed the opinion that the public generally factitiously believed the polico were more powerful than they were. He explained that except for their power to make arrests tlhe police were little different from citizens. He denied that tho public were unsympathetic to the police. There was no ground for the supposition that the police exceeded their powers of inquiry. His 22 years' experience had shown that remarkably few convicted persons complained that the " third degree" had been employed against them. Commenting on the frequency of confessions of murder, Lord Lee said it seemed a little odd that so many criminals were anxious to hanc themselves. Witness replied that usually they made statements in the hope that the charges against thera would be reduced to manslaughter. The tradition of the force and tho careful selection of uuperior officers must be relied upon. The force could not | be run on a basis of distrust and suspicion.

The Royal Commission referred to in tho cablegram was set up early iu August to consider the general powers and duties of the police in England and Wales in tiic investigation of crimes and offences. Tho personnel is:—Viscount Lee, of Fareham (chairman); Lord Ebbisharn (formerly Sir Rowland Blades); Sir Howard Frank, Dame Men el Talbot, Sir Reginald Ward Edward Lano Poole, Mr. James Thomas Brownlie, Miss Margaret Beavan, Lord Mayor of Liverpool, and Mr.. Frank Pick

The terms of reference of the Royal Commission arc:—To consider the general powers and duties of police in England and Wales in the investigation of crimes and offences, including the functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the police respectively; to inquire into the practice followed in interrogating or taking statements from persons interviewed in the course of the investigation of crime; and to report whether in their opinion such powers and duties are properly exercised and discharged, _ with due regard to tho rights and liberties of the subject, the interests of justice, and the observance of the Judges Rules both in the letter and the spirit; and to maxe ativ recommendations necessary in respect of such powers and duties and their proper exercise and discharge. Mr. E. E. Bridges, of (he Treasury, is secretary of the Commission, find Mr. G. D. Kirwan, of the Home Office, assistant secretary.