BOGUS COMPLAINTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19125, 9 December 1933, Page 4

BOGUS COMPLAINTS.

The of complaints to the police of various alleged crimes and offences, which after investigation have proved to be hoaxes, has been commented upon by officers of the New Zealand Police Force. The increase in the number of such complaints in reoent years has been seriously viewed, and it has been urged that legislation should be introduced to provide legal punishment for actions of this kind.

The habit of making bogus complaipts to the police is one which should be met with severe treatment. Not only is it a mean trick to play upon a force of men who are constantly on duty for the protection of the public, but it threatens to impair the promptness and courtesy with which complaints are investigated. It can easily be understood that considerable delay would be encountered in securing the services of the police, if every- complaint had to receive a searching examination of its bona tide's.

There is a class of- individual to whom the raising of false alarms appeals as a peculiar act of humour. This has been illustrated in the past by the frequency of malicious false alarms of fire. The provision of a penalty for such thoughtless acts, however, has acted as a strong deterrent. Similarly the provisions of the Post and Telegraph Act have acted as a preventive measure against fraudulent complaints regarding the receipt or delivery of postal matter.

It is not unreasonable that the Police Force should be protected from unwarranted exploitation by persons who have no more sense of responsibility than to poster them with bogus complaints. The fact that all complaints, no matter how suspicious they may appear, must be examined on the chance of their being genuine, prevents the Force from adopting any measures to discourage them. It is therefore a matter for the Government to' provide effective penalties for abuses of the police services.