POLICE INQUIRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20612, 10 January 1929, Page 13

POLICE INQUIRY.

PUBLIC INDECENCY. CLUBS AS “ DRINKING DEWS!” (■From Oon Own Cohuespondent.) LONDON, November 20. ■Mr J. A, Wilson, chief constable of the Cardiff City Police, giving evidence before the Royal ’ Commission on Police Powers, said that with regard to offences of public indecency the police considered that they had not sufficient power to suppress public indecency. The public considered that the police already pos-, sessed, or exercised, too much authority and interfered with the liberty of the subject. This was a vexed question, the crux of which was the acceptance or rejection of uncorroborated public evidence. The average member of the public would not, even though importuned and annoyed, come forward in court to support a charge of importuning. The uncorroborated evidence of a constable, and sometimes that of two constables, in such cases were viewed with suspicion. If it were laid down that evidence of the police must be supported by independent testimony, public indecency would become flagrant, as there would be no arrests.

With regard to clubs, the witness said that the police should possess the power to enter them in the same manner as public houses so as to ensure that the licensing and gaming laws were observed. He estimated that 75 per cent, of the clubs in South Wales were not bona fide—they were drinking dens, nothin* more.

In answer to the chairman, the witness said he was. quite at a loss to suggest how what were known as “<nitter crawlers” should be dealt with. It was known that many girls were induced to ride in motor cars.

The chairman pointed out that the matter had been brought to the attention of the commission once or twice, but they iv ere still without any concrete suggestion as to how to deal with it. In answer to Miss Beavan, the witness said he had no women police in his force. He was opposed to women police. He did not think police work was a woman’s job. There were so many things a policewoman could not do, and so few that she could do. TACT AND FAIRNK&S. Mr T. Hollis Walker, recorder of Derby, stated that, speaking generally, he had found that the police exercised their powers with admirable tact and fairness. Any system must leave a good deal of detail to a discretion which cannot be expected always to reach the same standard, and it was small wonder if from time to time some sensational newspaper was able to lay hold of an isolated occurrence and magnify it into the ap. perance of a type, unfortunately to the detriment of public confidence. With regard to “ public morality ” cases, the police were often in a position of great difficulty. Independent witnesses simply would not come forward. It was distasteful to be mixed up in any way with such cases, and, while half the world declaimed against conviction on the uncorroborated evidence of the police, the other half clamoured that the police should keep parks and open spaces clean. He could not suggest any alteration in the powers and duties of the polieo. He could only prescribe more light and earlier closing.