POLICE EQUIPMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21450, 25 March 1933, Page 13

POLICE EQUIPMENT

THIEVES IN MOTOR-CAES NEED FOR FLYING SQUAD POSITION IN AUCKLAND Recent cases of the use of motor-cars by thieves and "joy-riders" h#ve indicated more than ever the necessity for an efficient motor corps for the police in Auckland. The subject is one which has concerned police executives for some time, according to the comment of a police official yesterday, but, principally because of the economy measures adopted by tho Government, little hope is held out for some constructive scheme in the near future. "It is only a matter of time when the polico 'flying squad' known in otjjer countries will become an established fact in Auckland, and, for that matter, in other New Zealand cities," the official stated. "Other countries have recognised the need for a police motor corps, and the same conditions must eventually apply in this Dominion." It was pointed out that there had been frequent representations to the Government to afford the police force more motor facilities, but no satisfaction had been obtained. The chief reason appeared .to be that the Government vhs intent on

economy, and did not wish to incur expenditure in any new direction.

At the same time, the growth of motor traffic had necessarily involved attention from criminals, and t.he theft or the conversion of motor-cars had unfortunately become common. In Auckland recently, a conviction had been made against a person who apparently had removed cars from private garages, more or less systematically. The danger was ever-present, and was one regarding which the police were specially watchful.

What was more dangerous was the opportunity for men to commit thefts and then escape in cars belonging to other people. At present, where such a crime was known, the system of prevention adopted, in the absence of a sufficient fleet of police cars, was to warn suburban stations in order that a watch of the principal highways could be kept. So far, the methods had yielded satisfactory results, but it remained that the provision of a patrol force would be much more effective.

Under a patrol system, it was assumed, Auckland would be divided into specific districts, in which units of the patrol fleet would operate. The cars would be equipped with wireless, as in other countries, and a broadcast warning issued from headquarters would enable the patrol officers in the vicinity of a crime to have the best opportunity of tracing the offenders. It was pointed out that the patrol system elsewhere had met with great success, and it would inevitably come to New Zealand.

At present, two cars are at the disposal of the Auckland police. It is considered that an adequate fleet of patrol cars is required to cope with the demands upon the force. A point which has been emphasised is that other Government departments have cars at the disposal of their officers, while the police force is lacking in that direction.