3 MARCH 1933, Page 3

The Police and Crime The, increase of motor bandits, who

are now breaking nto houses as well as robbing shop windows, has raised many doubts as to whether the police are being used to the best advantage in preventing crime and capturing the offenders. In a report just issued by the Home Office, Colonel Allen, Inspector of Constabulary, confirms the belief that too many constables are employed in trivial business, such as serving poor rate summonses, when they ought to be keeping the peace. No doubt such criticisms as these underlie the proposals to reorganize the small local police forces and bring them under a central control. In London traffic regulation is the.chief task that diverts the police from their proper duties. Traffic scouts could do the work.