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THE ESCAPE OF CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT GODBER WAS A. SHOCKING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US, EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING FOR THE POLICE WHO HAD WORKED SO CAREFULLY AND SO SECRETLY TO BRING HIM TO COURT.
THERE WAS GREAT PUBLIC DISQUIET ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS
ESCAPE, AND THIS CLEARLY CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND SEARCHING
ENQUIRY BY A MAN OF THE HIGHEST CALIBRE AND PUBLIC STATURE.
BUT I THOUGH THAT IT WAS RIGHT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CHARGE
THE SAME MAN WITH REPORTING ALSO ON THE WORKINGS OF OUR ANTI-
CORRUPTION LAWS AND THE MACHINERY TO ENFORCE THEM, AND THUS
PROVIDE AN AUTHORITATIVE AND DISPASSIONATE VIEW OF OUR SITUATATION
AS A BASIS FOR ACTION. THIS HAS BEEN DONE, AND I SHOULD LIKE TO
CONGRATULATE SIR ALSTAIR BLAIR-KERR ON THE THOROUGH AND FORTHRIGHT
WAY HE HAS PERFORMED THIS CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC SERVICE, WITH A
MINIMUM OF SOFT SOAP AND A MAXIMUM OF OBJECTIVITY. BOTH HIS
REPORTS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN FULL, THE PUBLIC HAD A RIGHT TO KNOW,
BUT IN ANY CASE WHEN SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG THE AIR IS USUALLY
SOONEST CLEARED BY FRANK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE FACTS. AFTER GODBER'S ESCAPE TWO THINGS QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT. THE FIRST WAS THAT SUSPIC-
ION OF CORRUPTION ON A MORE EXTENSIVE SCALE WAS BETTER-GROUNDED THAN
I HAD PERSONALLY REALISSEDD. THE SECOND WAS THAT THE MEN RESPONSIBLE
FOR INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING CORRUPTION FELT THAT IN SPITE OF THE NEW TEETH IN THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE, THEY STILL LACKED THE LEGAL WEAPONS AND TO SOME EXTENT OTHER FACILITIES NECESSARY TO GET THE RESULTS THEY AND THE PUBLIC WANTED AND THE SITUATION REQUIRED. THESE POINTS HAVE NOW BEEN SUBSTANTIATED IN SIR
ALASTAIR BLAIR-KERR'S REPORT,
J
THIS CALLS FOR NEW MEASURES.
WITH REGARD TO LEGAL WEAPONS, ON THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE - COUNCIL, THE GOVERNMENT GENERALLY ACCEPTS THE OBJECTIVES OF SIR ALASTAIR'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THEY ARE BEING EXAMINED IN DETAIL IN CONSULTATION WITH THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE. CLEARLY SUCH DRASTIC CHANGES IN ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLES OF LAW MUST BE LOOKED AT VERY CAREFULLY INDEED. WE HOPE THAT LEGISALTION CAN BE INTRODUCED SHORTLY BEFORE COUNCIL. WHERE APPROPRIATE, DISCUSSIONS.
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