PACKED WITH THRILLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

PACKED WITH THRILLS.

POLICEMEN'S NEWSPAPERS. UNDERWORLD'S " WHO'S WHO." One of the least-known of the daily papers, but one of the most important in Britain from the point of view of public welfare, is the journal printed and-edited in secret and entitled Informations. This newspaper, which cannot be purchased by the public at any price, deals very fully with the activities of the underworld, and until a few years ago was known as the Hue and Cry. Tho paper is issued twice a day from Scotland Yard's own printing press to all senior police officers, superintendents in charge of every London police station, and to tho moro important stations in provincial towns. In London it is distributed by members of the flying squad mounted 011 fast motor-cycles, and its rapid distribution is ono of the most important factors in tho arrest of many desperate criminals. The paper is well illustrated, and frequently contains photographs of "wanted" men, stolen property, and finger-prints. On other occasions summaries of recent burglaries, frauds and felonies are included in the paper, which is naturally tho terror of all criminals, since by its circulation the field of investigation is soon narrowed down. In it may be found the explanation of many a secret raid by the police, whose swift arrests have frequently mystified the public. A second paper, a bi-weekly journal, the Gazette, is also widely distributed to all members of the force. To read portions of this magazine is often like reading chapters from some Edgar Wallace story, for not only does it contain "detailed accounts of the methods adopted to persuade criminals to betray themselves, but frequently full descriptions of the capture of such persons are set forth. All members of the force whose aim it is to become members of the Criminal Investigation Department, conscientiously study every page of the Gazette, which is used in conjunction with other manuals at both Peel House and at Scotland Yard, where files of every issue are kept in tho libraries. These two newspapers are known in the force as the " Who's Who " of the underworld.