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Minutes of evidence taken before the Royal Commission upon Decentralization in Bengal of witnesses serving directly under the Government of India, volume 10 — [London?]: [House of Commons?], 1908

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ROYAL COMMISSION UPON DECENTRALIZATION.

39

The Director, Criminal Intelligence, is in no sense
an Imperial Inspector-General. He does not inspect
and has no control over the provincial police force.
43330. Are you brought into direct relationship with
the Inspectors-General of Police of provincial Govern-
ments ?—Yes, mainly in connection with any proposed
general rules or inter-provincial procedure.
43331. Do they communicate direct with you ?—
Yes ; nearly all my communications are made demi-
officially.
43332. How do you, as Director of Criminal Intelli-
gence, have to deal with the rules of Inspectors-General ?
—It arises very largely from the recommendations of
the Police Commission ; for instance, one of their
recommendations was that police officers should be
given general warrants for travelling to enable them
to travel without paying their fares, and in a case of
that sort it is advisable to have rules common to the
whole of India, because a railway which passes through
several provinces, naturally wants one set of rules.
43333. What other general questions would there
be arising between you and them ?—The Finger Print
Bureau is another matter where again one wants a cer-
tain amount of uniformity. Another point which has
arisen recently is with regard to probationary Assistant
Superintendents. It was directed by the Secretary of
State that they should have a course of 18 months’
training in India, but there are no rules on that
subject, and those orders of the Secretary of State
have not been altogether introduced yet. In a case
like that when I go round I inquire, and if the rules
have been overlooked I remind the local officers, and
leave them to take action.

that you would only do so if the Local Government
was willing ?—Yes.
43346. Have any occasions occurred when they have
been unwilling?—No ; they have been only too glad.
43347. When you speak of a measure of provincial
work, what form would it t^<e?—Merely in connection
with enquiries into cases of a special or technical
nature.
43348. Do you write and ask what is being done in
such matters ?—I should see the diaries of my own
officers.
43349. Then the central supervision is only with
regard to special cases ?—Yes.
43350. You say that the functions of the Director of
Criminal Intelligence are the minimum which can be
assigned to him with due regard to efficiency ; are there
other functions which you think he ought to have?—
No ; I do not at present advocate any change.
43351. What do you mean by the lowest minimum?
—There are certain cases specified in which he can
interfere, but in which, as a rule, he does not.
Circumstances might arise which would render his
interference desirable. What I had in mind was a
case of dakaiti which might have been committed by a
tribe of Afghans, in which case it would be necessary
for one to intervene, though in cases of ordinary
dakaiti one would not interfere.
43352. In the course of your official correspondence,
do you write direct to the Inspector-General or do you
address the Local Government ?—I write direct ; I
think orders have been passed to that effect with the
consent of the Local Government.

43334. Do you go on tour?—Yes, during the whole
of the cold weather.

o

0)

43335. Does the local Inspector-General of Police
write to you and say : “ Such and such rules are under
consideration, will you give me your advice ? ” or do
you write to him and say generally that orders have
been issued by the Government of India, and that you
want to know what he is doing in the matter ?—I
generally wait till I go to his province, and then I ask
what he is doing. Sometimes the Local Governments
write to the Government of India, saying they want
rules on certain subjects, and asking whether we will
introduce them, or whether we would like them to
do so.
43336. When a local Inspector-General asks for
advice do you give it, and do you consider that that
begins and ends your functions qua Local Government ?
—Yes. r ""
43337. With regard to the Crimi
Department, is that generally condui
Deputy Inspector-General ?—Yes.
43338. Do you observe the same
him, or do you look upon yoursel
Criminal Intelligence, as dealing mor<
its workings ?■—I require more inforn
If it was a case of dealing with a big <
tion I would ordinarily go to him and
see his papers and discuss the matter
43339. Would you go to see him ot
I would see him if possible, becaust
satisfactory.
43340. How do you organize, with
operations in regard to criminal trib
matters you have detailed ?—That st:
■collecting information ; when it come
one has to go to the local officers. In :
•operations extending through sever!
would discuss with them and find o
would like the matter taken up gener:
43341. Do you go to the Local Govi
them whether they would like you to 1
—I mean the local police officer.
43342. Then, as far as the larger cri
are concerned, you take action on you
—Yes, very largely.
43343. And then you employ their
43344. Have you any authority 1
officers against their wish ?—No, it is s
them and the Government of India.
43345. When you speak of procurin
jpolice officers belonging to other prov


43353. With regard to conferences, do you represent
that Local Governments would not adopt certain
police methods if only suggested by the Inspector-
General, without any backing from the Director of
Criminal Intelligence ?—I think there are certain
traditional local prejudices in many police matters ;
and people prefer their own methods. An Inspector-
General of ripe experience and force of character
might gain the support of the other Inspectors-General,
but the other Local Governments would remain to be
convinced.

43354. Do you not think that the same advantages
which have resulted from conferences between other
high officials would result in the case of Inspectors-
General ?—They would have some effect.
43355. But only in minor matters ?—I do not think
I’oversy you could get much

ie of your duties is to super-
certain criminal tribes and
linals. I suppose that is a duty
p provincial Governments?—
(becomes a big matter that I
ce of one Local Government
>ut of their jurisdiction into
Government, can they follow
h the police of that Govern-
upposed to, but they do not
hat is not a matter in which I
; of your duty the collecting
itical, social, and religious
luty is to collect information
Local Governments or the
Yes.
knees their own FingerPrint
keep is a duplicate of the same
not a duplicate of every finger
I nces ; the provinces have far
I ve merely those of criminals
I le the province wherein they

es keep those prints also ?—
ose provinces in which such
> in which they are convicted,
ve no direct concern with the
affairs in the different pro-
ment not intended to have

Mr. C. J.
Stevenson-
Moore.
1 Feb., 1908.
 
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