DUTY OF POLICEMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20086, 25 October 1928, Page 13

DUTY OF POLICEMEN.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. EVIDENCE AT COMMISSION. Australian Picas Association—United Service LONDON. Oct. 23. Sir Wyndham Childs, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Polico, informed the members of the Polico Commission that the duty of a police officer when dealing with a hostile witness was to elicit by every possible artifice the proofs he sought. Therefore it was difficult to avoid the popular feeling I hat- undue pressure was applied. In explaining tho methods of detection ho gave an interesting sketch of the police work in a hypothetical burglary, in which there were no clues except tho burglar's technique, which indicated that ho might be any one of 10 suspected men. Each of these would be asked to account for his movements, until one of them was unable to explain. While he was under examination a message might be sent by telephone saying that a handkerchief had been found in the flat whore the burglary occurred. The inspector would inform the suspect of this, while watching his face. If the man did not answer, or said he should like to account for that handkerchief, the inspector should caution him„ because his statement might bo a confession. Sir Wyndham said that in his opinion policewomen were of no use to the Criminal Investigation Department except to watch for the passing of cocaine, or in the case of clairvoyants, when he was afraid they would be called agentsprovocateurs. " I am not condemning women polico generally, but there is insufficient use for them for staff work. If the police want to borrow women to use in night clubs they borrow those who not only look the part, but are the part." The witness intimated that he would give further evidence on this matter in camera. Sir Wyndham declared that courtesy was one of tho necessary attributes of a good officer. When promotion was considered, courtesy was one of the most essential points. If a man was not courteous ho was not promoted. Sir Howard Frank, I a member of the Commission: I take it that the code of honour of the Criminal Investigation Department is extremely high. Sir Wyndham: That is my sincere belief. Unless an officer is proved to be honourablo in every detail, he does not continue to be a member of the force.