POLICE, PERTH RIOTS, AND SPINELESS CABINET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17699, 20 November 1925, Page 1

POLICE, PERTH RIOTS, AND SPINELESS CABINET.

LAW OFFICERS ALLEGE WERE NOT GIVEN POWER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. (Received November 20. 10.30 a.m.) PERTH, November 20. The Police Association, in the course of a statement protesting against the Government’s refusal to grant a pensions scheme, makes serious reference to the recent riot at Fremantle when strikers attacked the police. The statement alleges that the police were told not to use their revolvers unless they were in .imminent danger. Ministerial sanction had to be obtained before the police could defend their persons, and the result was that a number of the police were seriously injured. The statement proceeds: “ The Government of the day should lay down the dictum that if the Police Force is to be influenced by Governments and Ministers as it has been during recent years at Fremantle as to the methods which it should use to defend the property and lives of the people, the police should he afforded some guarantee against the ever-present risks of being hamstrung by the Governments.” The statement concludes: “Apparently the policy of the Minister in charge of police is to arm police with velvet gloves instead of with competent weapons. It is questionable whether the police will rush into the next affray in view of the manner in which the strikers were dealt with by the magistrates on this occasion.”