AbstractsLaw & Legal Studies

The S.P.P. dealt with serious crimes, carried out long, frequent and dangerous patrols and sometimes in dealing with cases they suffered from political interference. Sometimes this interference involved lesser offences and the police were told to "take it easy" because votes might be lost. Checking on school attendance was another unpopular duty, and largely involved the children of non Anglo Saxon origins. The various reports frequently give expression to the rather waspish sentiments common at the time. On 31 May 1928 the S.P.P. was disbanded. This study examines the reasons given for this action and looks at the subsequent investigation into various activities of different members.