DARTMOOR PRISON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21115, 24 February 1932, Page 9

DARTMOOR PRISON.

CHANGE OF GOVERNORS. MR. ROBERTS TRANSFERRED. (Received February 23, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY, Feb. 22. Major C. Pannall, acting-governor of Dartmoor Prison, has been appointed governor in succession to Mr. S. N. Roberts, who has been appointed to the vacant governorship of Cardiff Prison. DANGEROUS CRIMINALS. DRASTIC MEASURES PLANNED. LONDON, Feb. 19. Drastic measures to cope witli criminals of " the dangerous modern type," referred to by Mr. Hubert Du Parcq, K.C., in his report on the Dartmoor prison riot, aro suggested by Scotland Yard's latest move. The first step, aiming motor police to deal with the growing menace of armed bandits, has been taken with their equipment with revolvers in cars patrolling the London-Brighton Road, wliero a gang of dangerous criminals recently has been operating. The authorities are considering similarly equipping provincial flying squads. Bandits are becoming increasingly numerous and daring. The Secretary of State, Sir Herbert Samuel, revealed in the House of Commons lliat 131 bandit crimes occurred in Greater London during the last three months. Ono of tho latest and most daring outrages occurred when bandits dashed treacle and plaster in tho face of a Hut-ton Garden jeweller as ho was walking near Oxford Street in the. daytime, and seized his bag of jewels valued at £12,000, then escaping by motor. An ex-Scotland Yard officer points out (hat criminals formerly working alone now arc compelled to combine in order to make a quick escape by motor. He expresses the opinion that gangs arc often formed in prisons. Tho Prison Commissioners arc specially studying whether an alteration is needed in iho methods of detention and punishment of bandits and gangsters.