A CITY OF VICE

Southland Times, Issue 19502, 17 March 1925, Page 7

A CITY OF VICE

CONDITIONS IN MONTREAL POLICE LIKE APACHES A SCATHING REPORT (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) OTTAWA, March 15. A telegram from Montreal states that Mr Justice Louis Coderre, who conducted the inquiry into Montreal’s vice, has issued a report stating that the police official at the head of Montreal’s morality squad used his position to amass a fortune and betrayed his oath of office, and his retehtion would be a disgrace to the public morals of that city.

Montreal by a system of fines on keepers of disorderly houses put itself in the first rank of vice profiteers. The report further states that several detectives, by initiating a system of ransom for the return of stolen goods; gave thieves and receivers of stolen goods immunity and encouraged crime; also, that the police inspectors amassed fortunes through grave dereliction of duty, and that certain constables, instead of being guardians of the law, acted more like apaches than police. The Union was a cancer on good discipline and a school for insubordination, and should be abolished forthwith.

The report proposes that there should be a director of public safety in charge of police affairs, w r ho should be above control by the City Council, with the right of appeal to the Courts from any attack on his position; that a system of card index should be kept for all foreigners; and that the Police Force should be increased by at least 50 per cent.