RADIO POLICE CAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22976, 2 March 1938, Page 14

RADIO POLICE CAR

FIRST IN DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME PLANS OF COMMISSIONER EQUIPMENT IN AUCKLAND A modern police patrol pursuit motor-car, equipped with wireless and controlled from a special radio station operated by police officers, to be placed in commission during the next two or three months, 'will mark the beginning of a new era in the history of the Isew Zealand police force. The motor-car will be the first of its kind to be introduced into the Dominion and will be designed in accordance with the very latest of such police equipment in America and Great Britain. The decision as to whether it will be operated in either Auckland or Wellington will depend entirely on the reports submitted by a staff of experts at present busily engaged in Wellington. Transmitting Station The scheme will be necessarily an experimental one and, if successful, will embrace the four main centres of the Dominion —Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Owing to the noise in the city and other technical factors, it will be necessary tor the special radio station to be situated some miles from the chosen city, preferably in the hills. If Auckland is selected, the station will probably be situated either in the W aitakeres or at Henderson. This scheme is outstanding in a number of sweeping changes and improvements planned by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. D. J. Cummings, for the complete modernisation of the New Zealand police equipment, in accordance with the latest scientific standards. A summary of his plans was given by Mr. Cummings in a telephone conversation with the New Zealand Herald yesterday. New Vehicles In addition to the wireless patrol motor-car three other modern patrol cars have already been purchased, and extensive additions to the finger-print and photographic sections of the detective branch have been planned, stated the commissioner. All other equipment will also be brought up to date as soon as possible, and attention is being given to buildings and police quarters. The Auckland police force will be the first to benefit by the many improvements instituted by Mr. Cummings and which have the hearty support of the Minister in Charge of the Police Department, the Hon. P. Fraser. A powerful, modern patrol car will be delivered to Auckland either this week or early next week. It will be a!dded to the present fleet of six cars, two of which will be replaced by new vehicles in the near future. The new cars will be warmly welcomed by the night patrol staff. Photographic Department A special micro-photographic department, as universally used in Europe, Great Britain and America, and also by the Australian Criminal Investigation Department, will be established as a valuable auxiliary to the photographic department of the detective branch. It is expected to prove one of the finest acquisitions to the Dominion police equipment, as it will greatly widen the photographic technique. Micro-photography deals with the taking of the most minute photographs, and is thus of great assistance in recording impressions of the flimsiest evidence, invisible to the ordinary camera. A large sum will be expended in providing extensive additions to the fingerprint department equipment—one of the most important branches of the police force. Modern methods abroad have been closely studied and many of the latest systems will be introduced. The schemes outlined by Mr. Cummings will result in greater assistance to the police in the scientific detection and prevention of crime, and have been ructuated by his desire to bring the New Zealand police force up to the highest point of efficiency and comparable with the high standards set in other countries.