Recent Book: The Police Idea “Down Under”: The Australian Police Forces
| Date | 01 September 1961 |
| Author | J. C. Alderson |
| Published date | 01 September 1961 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6103400519 |
| Subject Matter | Recent Book |
We know from the newspapers that Soviet agents are not infrequently detected
and brought before the Courts; we know, too, that Soviet and satellite diplomats
are from time to time required to leavethe country. It is clear from Mr. Hutton's
account that these are only incidents in the incessant campaign that Russia is
carrying on in her attempt to penetrate the secrets of the Western powers.
If
his book does anything to upset our complacency and increase our vigilance
during these critical years, it willnot have been written in vain. P.R.
THE
POllCE
IDEA"
DOWN UNDER ..
G. M.
O'BRIEN:
The AustralianPolice Forces. Oxford University Press. 37s.6d.
A FEW YEARS AGO I had the pleasure of making a close study of police administra-
tion in Australia and was surprised to find that so far nobody had written a book
on the subject. My wonderment increased during my research when I discovered
a rich vein of interesting and often dramatic material.
Writers on this aspect of Australian life had singled out the affair of .. Eureka
Stockade" and the story of the infamous Kelly Gang for special treatment.
It is characteristic of the Australian that he should spotlight two events which
show the policein an unfavourable light, for he is ever ready to take a knock at
the forces of law and order. Happily there are signs of improving public relations.
What Hollywood has done for the Canadian ..
Mountie",
nobody has done
for the Australian Trooper, and Mr. G. M. O'Brien, himselfa police officer, is
to be congratulated on taking the first step to put the matter right.
His book gives a comprehensive account of police development in Australia
and sets out the various features of existing forces.
The opening-up of a vast continent such as Australia brings with it many
administrative headaches, including the provision of adequate police resources.
Governor Phillips' first police of 1788 were convicts of good behaviour whose
duties were of
the"
watch and
ward"
kind familiar to students of British police
history. At the beginning of the nineteenth century we see the familiar pattern
of magisterial control of constables in the form devised by Henry Fielding
in Bow Street.
During the 1850's the discovery of gold, which did so much to determine the
character of the Australian nation, brought the government of the day face to
face with an acute police problem. Attracted by the possibilitiesof .. getting rich
quick", immigrants began to flood into the country. As fast as police were re-
cruited they left to try their luck at
the"
diggings". Throughout alI the excite-
ment and hustle of the times the Government were able to maintain an efficient
force of mounted troopers. The comparison between the Canadian Mounted
Police and the Australian Trooper is most marked at this stage. Both were of
a quasi-military nature and performed similar functions. They had to undertake
arduous patrols and journeys of exploration, police the rip-roaring gold fields,
escort the gold trains, to say nothing of hunting down .. bushrangers" and
pacifying a sometimes hostile native population. A tall order for any police
force, and the way it was executed was a great credit to those pioneering police
officers.
As .. gold fever" subsided and cities began to grow, the police administration
followed the pattern already proved so successful by Peel's police in London.
In the middle of the nineteenth century many experienced officersof the Metro-
politan Police were recruited to assist in establishing similar organisations in
Australia.
The one essential difference between the British and Australian Forces lies
in the nature of control. Local government never had the strength and tradition
so noticeable in 'Britain, and consequently has never claimed its own police.
Each Australian force is under the direct control of the State Governments
without any apparent loss of efficiency or any danger to the liberty of the subject.
Conversely there is little local interest in police.
Detailed accounts of present day organisations and methods included in this
book illustrate the progressive nature of the forces concerned. Equipment is
first rate, conditions of serviceare well advanced (e.g, 40 hour week and good
pay), but it amazes one to learn that the Police Federations are affiliated to the
September-October 379
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