POLICE AT SCHOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 12

POLICE AT SCHOOL

QUESTIONING CHILDREN CRITICISM OF PRACTICE EDUCATION BOARD'S VIEW [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] HASTINGS. Fridny As a result of allegations by the Bartletts School Committeo that a police officer recently interviewed school children, and that this in effect was intimidation, tho Hawke's Bay Education Board is to emphasise to tho Minister of Education and the Minister of Justice the undesirability of police visits during school hours for the purpose of questioning school children. The board, in a recent letter to the inspector of police at Gisborne, said: "The question of police interrogation of children at school has arisen from time to time, and the board has understood that as a result of protests instructions had been issued that no such interrogations were to be made unless parents were given the opportunity to be present. While teachers have asked tho board for advice ttiey have always been informed that while children are in their care they should not allow police interrogations without the parents' consent."

The Bartletts School Committee in its letter to tho board took very strong exception to the action of a police constable who questioned children at school without tho parents being given an opportunity to be present. It was stated that in spite of the head teacher's protest the constable refused to desist, but stated that if he were interrupted he would lay a charge against the committee and the master. In reply to representations made to him upon this subject, Inspector H. Marton, of Gisborne, said he found that the constable was within his rights in visiting Bartletts for tho purpose shown and he had the sanction of the headmaster to do so. Incidentally, tho headmaster . very materially assisted the constable. It was not incumbent upon a police officer investigating a crime to call upon the parents of children. Several members of the board criticised the practice of uniformed constables entering schools for the purpose of questioning children. The chairman, Mr. G. A. Maddison, and Mr. R. C. Sainsbury said it was a practice which should not be permitted.