BRITISH POLICE

Southland Times, Issue 20614, 12 October 1928, Page 7

BRITISH POLICE

POWERS AND DUTIES ROYAL COMMISSION’S INQUIRY RESTORATION OF CONFIDENCE (United Frew Assn.—By Telecrapb—Copyright.) London, October 10. “Our main effort must be to restore mutual confidence in the police by the public which has hitherto been a striking and happy feature of the national organization and the absence of which will undermine even gravely the Imperial bases of the social fabric,” said Lord Lee, presiding at the first public sitting of the Police Commission. He would not endeavour to restore confidence by whitewashing, but by the discovery and removal of any causes of friction and complaint. It must always be remembered that a law-abiding community did not wish to see the police discredited. In any case the diminution of confidence, about which much has been said, was possibly exaggerated. The Commission was not trying the police and not re-opening the recent notorious cases which had already been settled in the Courts. Lord Lee added that a questionnaire had already been sent to Judges. Government Departments and the police throughout the country, and other individual associations would be invited to reply. Witnesses would be selected after perusal thereof. Sir Ernley Blackwell, legal assistant, Under-Secretary of State, was the first witness. He advocated the policemen’s oath as a King's officer and general instructions should be standardized throughout the country. Although the Home Secretary did not believe in over-precise regulations, he was expecting the police to exercise discretion. He expressed the opinion that the public generally factitiously believed that the police were more powerful than they really* were. He explained that except for the power of arrest the police little different from citizens. He denied.that the public was not sympathetic towards the police and added that there was noground for supposition that the police exceeded the powers of inquiry. His 22 years’ experience showed that there were few convicted persons who complained of the third degree. Lord Lee, commenting on the frequency of murder confessions, said it seemed a little odd that so many criminals were anxious to hang themselves. Sir Ernley Blackwell replied that they usually made a statement, hoping that the charge would be reduced to manslaughter. He said: “You must rely on the tradition of the force and the careful selection of superior officers. You cannot run the police on the basis of distrust and suspicion.”— Australian Press Association-United Service. The Royal Commission to consider the powers and duties of police consists of Lord Lee, of Fareham, Lord Ebbisham, Sir Howard Frank, Mr Reginald Lanepool, Mr Frank Pick, Mr J. G. Brownlie, Dame Meriel Talbot, Miss Margaret Beavan and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.