IDENTIFICATION PARADES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 60

IDENTIFICATION PARADES.

BEST METHOD AVAILABLE. AUCKLAND, February 4. The value of police identification parades and the reliability of evidence given by children were discussed in the Supiethe Court when Stanley, married, a ships greaser, of Auckland, was charged with committing three acts of indecency at hangarei. Fifteen witnesses had been called by Mr Paterson for the Crown, and the accused and two witnesses were called by Mr Sullivan for the defence on Thursday, and two more witnesses gave evidence to-day. Most of the Crown witnesses were schoolgirls and women. Although it is the custom for the police to hold identification parades in certain eases, Mr Sullivan said, there was no law, no rule and no regulation for parading a man for identification. It would be an. interesting point if a constable laid hands on a man who refused to go on one of these parades, in the absence of a solicitor, whether it would not amount to assault. Counsel suggested that the evidence of identification given by the children was not to be fully relied upon owing to their inexperience and age. ' ■ Mr Paterson, for the Crown, said there was no reason why the evidence of the children could not be fully relied upon. If they were not going to accept the evidence of the children . they would have one of two things happen—either there would be an increase in these offences against children or parents would take the law into their own hands. Mr Justice Herdman referred to the evidence of the children. He said discrepancies would be found in all evidence, such as the speed of motor cars, the force of a blow or ,a description of a person’s clothing or face. If they were not going to accept the evidence of identification because all the witnesses did not exactly agree they would have the unrulv ser-t'on of the community getting the upper band, and they would have a state of affairs in this country such .aS: existed in Melbourne and Chicago some time ago If such an event happened in New Zealand the women and children would not he safe and property would be in' danger It was the xluty of the polx-e to hold an identification narade in this case and what better identification could be taken he did not know. Accused was found not guilty,, and was discharged.