21 MAY 1932, Page 12

" THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE "

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—One of the most frequent mistakes made by the writers of detective novels is the creation of an official, unknown to our system of government, entitled the Commissioner of Police, with powers over the whole country. It is amusing to find that Lord Brentford, who, as he says in his article in last week's Spectator, was for five years Home Secretary, and as such in charge of the police, is under the impression that he has actually met and consulted with this entirely mythical personage I fancy his lordship is confusing him with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, the scope of whose activities is far more limited.—I am, Sir, &c.,