MODERN POLICE METHODS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1931, Page 9

MODERN POLICE METHODS

STUDY OF FOREIGN TONGUES.

(New Zealand Herald Correspondent.) Sydney, Dec. 3. In keeping with the increased efficiency which has characterised its operations during the last' few years, the Sydney Criminal Investigation . Branch has hurled another spanner into the wheels of the criminal world, for some of the detectives are studying languages. This will aid the department in its investigations of crimes committed by or against foreigners and in its general dealings with the police of other - coun-

Two members of the branch have practically mastered Italian. They are students of a well-known professor and study in their own time. Their pronunciation is perfect and they have already advantageously utilised, their knowledge in the course of their daily jobs. A number of detectives throughout the metropolitan area are good French speakers, who continually study the language. Others speak German and several, chiefly among the returned soldiers of the force, have a good workable knowledge of Arabic and Egyptian. The increase of crime has necessarily demanded progress in the science and means of detection. Scores of crimes committed by foreigners in Sydney, or which have led the police into mazes of foreign difficulties, have in the past considerably handicapped them. In a few years, however, the most foreign job will no longer be foreign to them and it is with the object of attaining the most modern standard that the Commissioner, Mr. Childs, and Superintendent Mackay, both of whom, incidentally, are wide readers, are. encouraging the study of languages and, indeed, of all subjects calculated to make men good policemen.