Beational me ese O Ey ole Ws

By JOHN SHIRRAS

Commissioner B.C. Provincial Police

ae Criminal element knows no boundaries. Like a scourge of pestilence the little *
lines on maps mean nothing to evil-doers, says Commissioner John Shirras in
argument for police co-operation between countries through clearing house

BEFORE REVIEWING interna-
tional phases of police work, perhaps
it might be as well to ask “What is
the police function?’ Here we find
at the very outset that there are ser-
ious. limitations and obstacles in the
path of complete international police
co-operation.

Under our democratic system the
police function includes the mainten-
ance of law and order: the preserva-
tion of life and property; the preser-
vation of all human rights, either rel-
ative or absolute. We are, in fact, a
part of the public whom we serve.
According to ancient usage, the police
are a group of citizens paid by the
general public, to preserve the rules or
laws of the community. Hence, it
would be impossible for the police to
assume an attitude hostile to the body
whom they serve, the general public.

Under other forms of government,
such as autocracies, absolute monarch-
ies, and totalitarian states of various
hues the police have an entirely dif-
ferent function. True, they maintain
public order. preserve the peace, and
guard property. But what of the in-
dividual rights of the peonle? How
can they preserve something which
does not exist? Under the ancient
customs of the French Kings. and
others, the “lettres de cachet’’ were
in current use. This autocratic war-
rant or letter, casting an individual
in prison without trial, often for life
at the mere whim of the sovereign,
is unheard of in our countries today.
But is this true of other states? We
fear not. The same barbaric usage
prevails today as it did under other
forms of autocratic rule. A minority
holding power must rule with stern
and merciless band to retain control,
and that stern hand is all too often
the dreaded quasi-military police, to

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whom there is no law but the de-
sire of their masters. In fact, that
type of police work ranks more
with an army of occupation in a for-
eign land, than our idea of policing.
Can you imagine what would happen
if one of our political leaders were
to order a policeman to shoot down
a citizen? What do you think would
happen to that leader? Of course, you
say, “It couldn’t happen here.’”’ So
be it. We trust that it never will.

All I am trying to say, is that tor
complete co-operation and goodwill
there must be complete community of
purpose, with the same definite goal
of public service We cannot get effi-
cient team work from men with dif-
ferent ideologies, and different man-
dates from their controlling author-
ity.

Such co-operation as we may rfe-
ceive is perfunctory, and frequently
insincere, so that we must guard well
to whom we give our international
confidence.

Under our democratic form of
government. there is a comonlete free-
dom of political belief. We afford
sanctuaries to those suffering from
political persecution. Our only ex-
ception to the rule of political free-
dom, is when the organization or
party seeks to overthrow the govern-
ment by force rather than through
the ballot box. We resent this gang-
ster ideal because it would enslave
the majority, and a militant minoritv
could at any time seize the reins of
power, and at one swathe. cut down
a thousand years of progress and
emancipation.

Under the autocratic forms of gov-
ernment. there is no freedom of po-
litical belief, even though this be
shorn of any intent to overthrow the

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government of the day by force. Per-
haps it is merely fear of those in con-
control that “‘they who live by the
sword, shall perish by the sword.”

We, therefore, have a common
ground to preserve our integrities by
united action and co-operation in
meeting subversive activity either
from without, or from within. Those
of our residents who avow anti-dem-
ocratic ideals cannot be in truth our
citizens, for they owe allegiance to
foreign states by virtue of their po-
litical beliefs. It therefore becomes
mandatory that there be complete
liason and integration of effort be-
tween the forces of the law in all
countries where freedom prevails. It
is necessary that the common evil be
met with frankness, and not glossed
over as something which does not
concern the police. Surely, we would
be remiss in our duty to the people,
if we did not take every precaution
to see that the elements of the Four
Freedoms are retained in your land
and mine.

Must HAVE COMPLETE
UNDERSTANDING

To meet this situation, there must
be complete understanding, and tol-
erance of the other man’s viewpoint,
coupled with an unselfish desire to
meet a common enemy who will
brook at nothing to gain his ends. If
we, carrying the banner of the Law,
cannot unite in stemming this in-
vasion how can we expect others to
do so?

The criminal and anti-social ele-
ment knows no boundaries. Like a
scourge, or pestilence. the little lines
on maps mean nothing to the evil-
doer. All he is interested in is the
most lucrative field for his nefarious
operations. To give effect to greater

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