POLICE METHODS

Southland Times, Issue 20539, 16 July 1928, Page 7

POLICE METHODS

INQUIRY BY TRIBUNAL. PUBLICATION OF REPORT. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, July 13. The. tribunal which inquired into the interrogation by police officers at Scotland Yard of Miss Irene Savidge following the dismissal of the Hyde Park case against her and Sir Leo Chiozza Money has issued two reports which were published to-day. The majority report is signed by the chairman of the tribunal, Sir John Flood Bankes, who was a former Lord Justice of Appeal and Mr. J. J. Withers, Conservative member for Cambridge University, while the minority report is signed by Mr. H. B. Lees-Smith, Labour member for Keighley. The case created enormous interest following allegations made by Miss Savidge regarding the police methods of taking her statement and which the officers concerned strenuously denied. The majority report accepts the evidence of the police officers and says that they treated Miss Savidge with no lack of propriety and did not misconstrue or alter the answers she made to their* questions. Their interrogation followed the lines indicated by the Director of Public Prosecutions and was not unduly extended. .Miss Savidge’s statements on material matters are not accepted. Although the usual practice was followed by the police and no coercion used the majority report expresses the view that the practice should be amended and steps taken to secure that when the character or reputation of a witness is the matter chiefly involved in the inquiry and where the consequences of making a statement may be greatly in his or her prejudice, the witness should be informed beforehand of its nature and the possible consequences. Only in the case of necessity should such a person be taken to a police station to make a statement. The minority report regards Miss Savidge as a more credible witness of what happened at Scotland Yard and considers that the police inspector and other officers concerned are deserving of censure. It also considers necessary revision of the procedure in the taking of statements by the police. The reports will be diecuased in the House of Commons next week.—British Official Wireless.