An annual meeting of Crime Investigation Branch (CIB) Superintendents was held at Brisbane in June 1947. It brought together delegates from police services in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Tasmania, hosted by Brisbane representatives Inspector Frank Kearney (Chairman) and Sergeant Roy Walker. The conference was opened by the Commissioner of Police, Cecil Carroll, with these words; (reproduced in part) “This is a very restless age we are living in and there are troublous times facing us, and we must have the best resources available to meet them”.
Commissioner Carroll continued to speak of the important work conducted by CIB officers, advancing technologies such as the Modus Operandi system, solving serious crime with knowledge and information, and the far better prevention of crime; addressing child delinquency by getting children out of State Institutions and back home. Other topics for discussion included the policing of airports, with an increase in illicit gold-dealers using air transport to convey gold from Perth to other States, and serious consideration given to the permanent policing of all dromes.
Plain clothed officers in attendance for the Officers Conference in Brisbane, 1939.
Back Row L – R: Inspectors Honan, Kearney (circled), O’Driscoll, Henderson, Keeffe, Howard, Smith, Watson, Maloney, Perrin.
Front Row L – R: Bock, Loch, Toohill, Police Commissioner Carroll, Meldon, Lipp, Jessen, McIver, J Smith.
Image No. PM3023 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
Agenda Item 2 examined the post-war procedure regarding the registration of aliens, Item 4 looked at bicycle stealing and whether a Reference Book, similar to the very detailed Jewellery Reference Book, be produced, with the idea not being endorsed due to the similarity of bicycle designs of the day. The subject of fires in wool stores was the hot topic in Item 20; the spontaneous combustion of wool bales in two Pyrmont stores, believed caused by the storage of damp wool. Scientists, the Fire Brigade and the Wool Realisation Commission provided advice concerning ideal storage conditions, and a resolution was made to bring the matter to the Commissioners’ Conference with a view to obtaining further scientific research to determine causes and prevention methods.
Shorthand and typewriting by members of the Detective Force was discussed. Superintendent N. James from Sydney stated, “Members of the New South Wales Police Service generally are encouraged to improve their education and become qualified in special subjects, such as shorthand-writing, touch typing, accountancy, book-keeping, wireless operating, technical drawing, photography, chemistry, handwriting, forensic medicine, ballistics and draftsmanship.” The variety of such specialised fields raised many questions from other State representatives. Suggested alternatives were offered from around the table, including; “At present shorthand and typing are done by females” (Perth and Brisbane).
When the circus comes to Ipswich town, c1947. Detectives in attendance to supervise the travelling sideshow men. Sergeant Cook is pictured to the left of the image. Can you identify the other two detectives?
Image No. 3903 donated by Judy Cook, 2014.
Further Agenda Items included reducing motor vehicle thefts by the recording of chassis and engine numbers on registration certificates, the pillage of cargo by waterside workers, best police pistols, the supervision and issuing of permits to travelling sideshow men. In total, 58 Agenda Items were tabled and addressed. In conclusion representatives praised the organisers from the Queensland Police Force for hosting such a successful conference. Superintendent Sheridan from Adelaide also offered; “We have had many opportunities of seeing the Queensland Police officers at work, in the streets conducting the traffic, and also the cadets in their preliminary training. We also visited the wireless station, which we found a very fine one and we were very impressed by it.”
Inspector Kearney ended by saying; The Conference is desirous of placing on record its appreciation for the assistance given by the shorthand-writers and typists.”
Probationary Officers on the parade ground of Petrie Terrace Police Depot, Brisbane, participating in physical training as part of their recruitment.
Image No. PM0293 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
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This article was written by Museum Assistant Georgia Grier from the best resources available within the Queensland Police Museum. The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.
Email: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“FROM the VAULT- A Conference of Interstate CIB Agents” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode