AGY-348 | Detective Force (1862-1915) / Criminal Investigation Branch (1915-1987 ) / State Crime Command (1987- )

Full description

With the formation of the NSW Police Department in 1862 a Detectives Force was established as part of the Foot Police. In November 1879 it formed into a separate branch and was comprised of a Detective Inspector and 17 men. (1)

Criminal Investigation Branch
A reorganisation occurred in 1915 resulting in the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) assuming responsibility for plain clothes police involved in the detection of crime. These staff were placed under the command of the Metropolitan Superintendent and their personal supervision under the Officer-in-Charge of the CIB. (2)

In 1929 the Officer-in-Charge returned to Sydney after an absence of eight months spent in the British Isles, Europe and the United States of America studying police methods and matters affecting police administration. (3) The Officer-in-Charge was accompanied during portion of the time by two other members of the Detective Staff and the visits resulted in the submission of valuable reports recommending reforms to the Police Department. (4)

A reorganisation of the Criminal Investigation Branch resulted based upon the practice observed in the City of Liverpool, England. A system was established under which the city and suburban portions of the Metropolitan Police District were divided into four different areas as follows:

Area A:—Comprising Divisions Nos. 1, 4, 6, 13, and 11. Area B.—Comprising Divisions Nos. 3, 10, and 15. Area C.—Comprising Divisions Nos. 2, 5, 7, and 12. Area D.—Comprising Divisions Nos. 8, 9, 11 and Parramatta. (5)

The criminal investigation work in each of these areas was placed under the control of a Detective Inspector or Detective-Sergeant, who was associated with the Divisional Headquarters, and who supervised members of the Criminal Investigation and Plain-clothes Staffs, including those previously associated with Police Headquarters. This reorganisation provided better supervision and direction of the criminal investigation work in the City and Suburban Divisions and close co-operation between the Detective and Plain-clothes Staffs. (6)

In 1930 a reorganisation of the CIB in which the Detective Police formerly attached to Police Headquarters were quartered at the Central Police Station, along with the Finger-print and Photographic Sections, and for more efficient investigation of crime the Metropolitan District was divided into four " Areas." In each of these " Areas " the criminal investigation work was supervised by either a Detective Inspector or a Detective Sergeant under the control of the Metropolitan Superintendent, and the Superintendent in charge of the CIB. (7) A Special Section of the CIB was also formed in 1930 to deal with illegal betting and ‘sly-grog’ selling and other associated offences. (8)

In 1931, two new sections were formed in the CIB including a Modus Operandi Section and a Stolen Property Tracing Section, in May, and September, respectively. (9) The principle on which the Modus Operandi Section worked was by the classification of the methods adopted by criminals in the perpetration of offences. The methods of classification adopted enabled useful clues to be obtained when similar offences were committed, and it was found that the same method had been employed as on previous occasions. (10) The staff of the Stole Property Tracing Section regularly subjected to close examination lists of articles supplied to the Police in respect of property, jewellery, etc., pledged with pawnbrokers or purchased by dealers. The lists were compared with the daily reports of property stolen, and a considerable amount of property was recovered. (11) During 1931 an additional aid to Police identification was inaugurated by the CIB in the provision of an Observation Room where offenders arrested during the day or night were seen by Detectives and Plainclothes Police the following morning without the latter being identified by the persons under observation. (12)

During 1931 a Mobile Squad was established in the CIB which consisted of a number of men carefully selected for trial on relieving and test duty on criminal investigation work and ten Probationary Constables. This Squad moved from place to place and patrolled various localities with a view to detecting housebreakers, questioning suspects, examining licenses of hawkers and dealers, and generally improve crime detection and prevention of crime. (13)

In 1934 a Forensic Ballistics Section was established at the CIB and a careful study of firearms and bullets was undertaken. (14)

By 1936, the CIB reported on five sections in the Police Department Annual Report including the Finger Print section, the Photographic section, the Ballistics section, the Modus Operandi section and the Drug Bureau. (15) By 1939 the Drug Bureau was renamed the Central Drug Bureau. This central body was formed at a conference of the Police Commissioners of the States of the Commonwealth, held in Brisbane in 1939, where it was decided to form a Central Drug Bureau in Sydney, so that better co-operation may exist between the States in the exchange of information concerning drug dealers and addicts. The Bureau was established under the Modus Operandi Section of CIB. (16)

A Scientific Investigation Bureau was established in the CIB in May 1938. This Bureau maintained a comprehensive index of all Police publications received including a range of publications dealing with the application of scientific methods of investigation, for instance, forensic medicine. Routine activities of this bureau included visits to crime scenes and fatal accidents, appearances at Court to provide expert evidence, examination of documents, clothing or textiles, boot and shoe impressions, glass fractures etc. and the preparation of handwriting exhibits. (17) Additional CIB sections identified and reported in the Police Department Annual report of 1942 included the Police Wireless section, which provided an uninterrupted wireless telephone service to Police Mobile Units, the Company and Business Agents Squad, dealing with the offences of misappropriation, false pretenses, stealing, forgery and conspiracy and goods in custody and associated crimes, the Consorting Squad, the Arson Squad, the Gold Buying Squad, and the Motor Squad. (18) In addition, a Special Vice Squad was created in Newcastle and Sydney with activities directed principally against the suppression of sex offences, prostitution and other street offences (19)

In April 1945, a re-arrangement of duties with respect of the supervision of the CIB was effected, and Detective Superintendent Wickham was appointed as Chief Superintendent, Crime, Vice and Court Staffs; Detective Inspector James (now Detective Superintendent), Officer in Charge CIB, and Inspector First Class (now Superintendent) W. C. S. Thompson, 'Officer in Charge of the Vice Squad’. The re-adjustment of responsibilities enabled the CIB, the Vice Squad and the Police Prosecutors and Court staff groups to operate more efficiently. (20)

By 1958, members of the Criminal Investigation Branch were primarily responsible for the investigation of crime. For greater efficiency and with a view to keeping as many detectives as possible in districts where crime was likely to be committed, a policy of de-centralisation of staff was in operation in later years and only a few Detectives and the specialised squad worked from CIB Headquarters. (21)

In the decade from 1960 to 1970 CIB Squad Sections included: Armed Hold-up; Drug; Fraud; Vice (in charge of the suppression of prostitution, sex offences, offences relating to obscene publications); Special Breaking (combines the former Safe and Arson Squad and the Special Breaking Detail (22); No.21 Special (the main training ground for young constables aspiring to become Detectives; also responsible for the suppression of gaming and betting offences); Pillage (permanently attached to the Water Police at Dawes Point; principally engaged in the suppression of theft on the waterfront from cargo carried by commercial shipping in the Port of Sydney (23); Stealing from Cars and Observation; Motor; Consorting (involves the prevention of the congregation of known criminals and is also responsible for the investigation of all extortion attempts made on companies and individuals); and Pawnbroking/Licensed dealers (responsible for the policing of all licensed pawnbrokers, antique dealers, second-hand dealers, scrap metal dealers, collectors, hawkers, and pedlars (24),(25). There is also the Fingerprint Section which incorporates the central fingerprint bureau for all Police Forces in Australia; the Modus Operandi Section (records the methods in which criminals coming under Police notice are operating); and the Property Tracing Section. (26)

In 1967 certain Sections and Squads were increased and/or reorganised for more efficient operational duties, including the establishment of the Crimes Prevention Section (27), officially opened in March 1967 - the first of any such Section in Australia. This Section has a well-presented display of electrical, electronic and mechanical devices, including a closed Circuit Television Camera and Receiver, all of which are used to advise the best possible methods of protecting persons and property against criminal acts (28). It advises and educates the public of the need to protect themselves; topics covered are general crime prevention, drug abuse, personal/home protection, and business and industrial security (29). The Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) was able to supply in detail the identities of many suspects, their whereabouts and known associates. Squads in the CIB continually sought assistance from the CIU in various areas of criminal activity (30).

In 1973, the Scientific Investigation Section separated from the CIB to become one of the other four groups constituting the Scientific, Technical and other Services Group, though it continued to operate substantially in the field of criminal investigation. This Group subsumed the Modus Operandi Section, the Central Fingerprint Bureau, the Property Tracing Unit and the Central Warrant Index from the CIB. (31)

In 1974, for operational efficiency, the Detective Branch of the Police Service was decentralised with the main body of Detectives working from selected Police Stations throughout the State, Headquarters of the Branch was located at Campbell Street, Sydney, where specialised Squads were accommodated including Armed Hold-up, Drug, Motor, Pawnbroking, Special Crime, Consorting, Fraud, Observation, Special Breaking and Vice Squads. Good co-operation was maintained between the Squads, Detectives at Stations and general duty Police. The regional re-organisation of the Metropolitan Area, effective from 1st April, 1974, allowed for the appointment of additional Detectives to suburban areas. (32)

1987 Regionalisation of the NSW Police Force and formation of State Crime Command
In 1981, the Lusher Commission of Inquiry into NSW Police Administration led to the introduction of the Police Board in 1984, the same year John Avery was appointed Commissioner. In 1987, Avery proceeded to oversee the reorganisation of the NSW Police Force based on the establishment of patrols within four geographic regions and the introduction of community-based policing. (33) The effect of the new management arrangements was to place the majority of services at the local level and to make lines of accountability unequivocal &mdash through State, Region, District, Division and Patrol. To achieve "regionalisation" four Assistant Commissioner positions of Crime, Traffic, General and State Emergency Services were discontinued, and four positions of Region Commander created. A key change was the replacement of the CIB with the State Crime Command and the transfer of its detectives to these four Regional Crime Squads and new patrols. (34)

The State Crime Command delivered professional policing services to the community of NSW by disrupting, preventing and responding to serious and organised crime. Led by the Commander, State Crime Command and the Director, Crime Operations, the command consisted of eight specialist squads each representing a head of discipline for major crime types. Administrative functions within the command were provided by Business Services, Human Resources and the Professional Standards Unit and other specialist commands with the NSW Police Force. State Crime Command Squads include Drug and Firearms, Criminal Groups, Organised Crime, Cybercrime, Homicide, Child Abuse and Sex Crimes, Financial Crimes and Robbery and Serious Crime. (35)

Endnotes
1. Australian Police website, https://www.australianpolice.com.au/chronology-of-policing-nsw/criminal-investigation-branch-nsw-police-force/, (accessed 14 April 2023).
2. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1915, p.6.
3. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1929, p.5.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1930, p.5.
8. Ibid.
9. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1931, p.5.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1934, p.5.
15. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1936, pp.8-10.
16. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1939, p.5.
17. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1940, p.13.
18. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1942, pp.7-10.
19. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1942, p.6.
20. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1945, p.6.
21. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1958, p.7.
22. New Parliamentary Papers 1969-70-71 vol.7 p.259.
23. New Parliamentary Papers 1979-80 vol.6 Report for 1978, p.696.
24. New Parliamentary Papers 1979-80 vol.6 - Report for 1978, p.694.
25. New Parliamentary Papers 1969-70-71 vol.7 p.258.
26. New Parliamentary Papers 1969-70-71 vol.7 pp.222-223.
27. New Parliamentary Papers 1968-69 vol.4 p.95.
28. New Parliamentary Papers 1968-69 vol.4 p.98.
29. New Parliamentary Papers 1979-80 vol.6 Report for 1978, p.696.
30. New Parliamentary Papers 1979-80 vol.6 Report for 1978, p.695.
31. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1973, p.11.
32. NSW Police Department, Annual Report for the year 1974, pp.19-22.
33. NSW Police website, https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/history, (accessed 14 April 2023).
34. Ibid.
35. NSW Police website, https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/organisational_structure/units/state_crime_command, (accessed 14 April 2023).