LENIENCY IN CRIME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22981, 8 March 1938, Page 13

LENIENCY IN CRIME

PROBATION AND PAROLE AMERICAN LAWYER'S VIEW RADIO PATROL CAR SYSTEM Leniency in police methods "was deplored by Colonel Frederick A. Pennine, a lawyer, of "Washington, and a former commissioner of police, who. with his wife, was a through passenger by the Mariposa yesterday. During a round trip with the ship, Colonel Pennine studied police conditions in Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne, and said he thought the forces in both countries had the advantage of being patterned on the London Metropolitan Police Force, which he regarded as being the best in the world. "Too much leniency in dealing with criminals, by granting probation and parole, is not good policy," said Colonel Penning. "Magistrates and judges who adopt such a policy discourage the police, and must eventually embarrass n community. Many of the big crimes committed in America in recent years have been traced to persons pardoned from prison for other ofTences. Probation should be granted only in exceptional cases." Colonel Fenning advocated the adoption of radio-equipped patrol cars for improving crime detection. He instanced the enormous expense borne by the American police in installing private telephone communication to patrol boxes, which were now fast becoming obsolete. "1 consider speed is everything in tracking down the criminal," said Colonel Fenning.