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Stolen
Jaguar motor car recovered by members of the Motor Squad
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Stolen
motor car parts recovered from a dam.
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The Motor Squad
was formed in 1930 to investigate offences involving motor vehicles
and in the late 1970's comprised twenty designated Detectives
supervised by a senior Detective Sergeant.
The most prevalent offence confronted by the Squad in those days was
that of motor vehicle theft and although about 89 percent of those
vehicles were recovered, parts and accessories were found missing
from a large number of vehicles. In 1972 motor vehicle manufactures
were compelled by Commonwealth legislation to fit anti-theft devices
and a decline in the theft of vehicles fitted with these devices
became apparent although the overall theft rate continued to
increase.
The motor
industry continued to grow and under the Motor Dealers Act 1974
there were approximately 5,000 licensed motor dealers in the late
1970's. The activities of these dealers were policed by the Motor
Squad together with the Department of Consumer Affairs and many
prosecutions were launched not only against dealers, but also
against persons who had committed offences on dealers.
'Hit-run'
accidents were a grave concern to the Motor Squad. These types of
accidents usually occurred in the hours of darkness, and often in
remote areas, witnesses were difficult to locate. The Department of
Motor Transport, as it was then known, allowed the use of its
computerised records which proved to be of valuable assistance in
the investigation of offences involving motor vehicles.
The Motor
squad was supervised by a Senior Detective Sergeant and comprised
twenty Detectives who had been specially selected for their ability
and aptitude in this phase of criminal investigation. Their
inquiries took them to all parts of the Commonwealth and whenever
possible to motor vehicle racing meetings in New South Wales.
Page Design
© Ian Hunter.
Content © New South Wales Police Force.
