BRITISH POLICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16772, 11 October 1928, Page 11

BRITISH POLICE

COMMISSION OPENS MUST RESTORE CONFIDENCE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Australian Pass Assn.—United Service.) (Received October 1!, 5 p.in.) LONDON, October 10. ■‘Our main effort must be to restore mutual confidence in the police bv the public, which hitherto has been a striking and happy feature of lln: national organisation, absence ol which will undermine. even gravely, the Imperial bases oi (lie social fabric, said Lord Lee. presiding at Hie lirsl public silling ot the I’olii e ( onimission. He added that lie would not endeavor to restove confidence by whitewashing, line bv (lie discovery, ami removal of any causes of friction and complaint. If mnsi always lie remembered that a lawabiding comm unity did not wish to see I lie police discredited. In any ease the diminution of confidence about which much had been said was possibly exaggerated. lhe commission was not trying the police, and not. re opening recent notorious eases which had already been settled in the courts. Lord Lee added that a qu.estionairo had already been sent to judges, Gov emnient departnienls. and police throughout the eou.nl.-ry, and other individuals ami assoeifuoiih would be invifed to reply• Witnesses w.ould be selected after a ‘perusal of the replies. Sir leniioy Blackwell, lhe. tirsi wif.nes.f-, advocated that tile policeman's oath as n. King’s officer and general, instructions, should bo standardised throughout the country. Although the Home- Secretary did not believe, in over-precise regulations lie was expecting the police to exercise discretion. He expressed l-l.ic opinion that, the public generally factitiously believed that the police were more-powerful t-han they really were. He. explained that ■ except for the power of arrest the police were little different from citizens. He. denied that the public was nor sympathetic towards the police, aml_ added that, there was no ground lor Hie sup-, position that the police exceeded then.’ powers of impiiiy. His 22 years' experience showed i hat. there were few convicted persons who complained of the, Hurd degree. Lord Lee, commentiug on the frei|uitncy oi murder confessions, said it seemed a. little odd that so many trim Dials were anxious to hang themselves. Hir Ki.iiley Blackwell replied that they usually made a statement l.mpfug that tlie iliarge would he reduced k> manslaughter He said: "You must, rely on ■ the tradition of the force, and the careful selection cf superior officers. You cannot- run. policemen on a basis of distrust and suspicion.''