SHINING A LIGHT ON CORRUPTION
Superintendent "Spike" Daniels
Police Superintendent Harold "Spike" Daniels was in charge of Central Division of the WA Police in the early '70's when the complaints about the growing sex trade and its monopolization started rolling in. The aggressive recruiting of young woman into the escort game led to public concern. Parents called for action, and as a father of five daughters, he shared their concern.
Older madams from Perth's notorious Roe Street days said a new order had come to town and they were being repeatedly raided by police and shut down. They could no longer operate. Only three were allowed; madams Dorrie Flatman and Stella Strong, both from Sydney's Kings Cross; and a Flatman local recruit, Shirley Finn. Stella Strong leaving for Kalgoorlie after her brothel was fire-bombed in 1972. (Her Sydney brothel and Kalgoorlie brothel were also fire-bombed)
He sent numerous reports to the Consorting Squad, responsible for investigating prostitution. They ignored the reports and, on one occasion, denied the brothel even existed. When the Consorting Squad failed to act Spike decided to step in. He was treading on toes and would pay a terrible price.
Spike tasked his men to raid Shirley Finn and Dorrie Flatman's brothels. He was summonsed to speak with Chief Superintendent Owen Leitch who encouraged him to back down or retire on medical grounds. Spike refused.
In a public address to Rotary, Spike spoke out against corruption. Here's a snippet of what he had to say.
The mafia claim that in four years of illegal activity that they can completely legitimise their activities to be a threat to businessmen like yourselves. It is not sufficient to say, "This kind of thing has always been with us", for so has every other type of crime; it is the increase which is frightening. I have already told you - that all things seen in the east are already heading west."
Take heed from the history of the world. Where all the great crime empires have been built, these same so called victimless crimes. In their wake comes the associated crimes of protection, corruption, coercion and violence. The American experience is 'that where vice rules, fear also reigns' corrupting the very core of our society.
He received death threats and harrassment calls following his Rotary speech. He was warned to carry a gun and watch his back. The rumour was spread throughout the force that he was mad. He continued to act against the trade monopoly.
He was soon stripped of his command at Central, his phone line was removed and he was placed in a back room and ordered to rewrite police standing orders.
Archie Marshall was one of many that were inspired by Daniels speech and offered his support. His offices were broken into after he agreed to set up a corruption hotline with Daniels.
After the murder of Shirley Finn, Spike and Archie pushed for a Royal Commission. The rumour was spread that Spike Daniels was the prime suspect in the Finn murder.
The 75-76 Norris Royal Commission into Matters surrounding the Administration of the Law Relating to Prostitution. must rank as one of the most ineffectual, misguided, deluded and inept Royal Commissions in the history of Australia. The Premier, Sir Charles Court and his deputy (later Premier) Ray O'Conner playing their part to help ensure its terms of reference were as narrow and ineffectual as possible. Shirley Finn's driver, Leigh Varis, says the then Police Minister, Ray O'Conner had a close relationship with murder victim, Shirley Finn and she regularly drove them to locations around Perth.
Instead of focusing on the industry, the Royal Commission ignored the evidence of the very people at the centre of the trade, lauding police officers who would later leave the force under a cloud and dismissing evidence from Daniels, working girls and key witnesses who alleged corruption.
Spike was forced to defend his sanity and even the West Australian Newspaper said the focus of the 1975 Royal Commission would be on Daniel's sanity . Anticipating this tactic, Spike had previously consulted with esteemed psychiatrists, who were able to testify regarding the soundness of his mental state.
One witness was beaten up after alleging she paid police to operate. She was too terrified to turn up the next day to continue her testimony. The Judge was unconcerned, dragged her back into court and threatened her with contempt with the police snickering and laughing as he did so.
Police officers were warned publicly not to speak out or break ranks by Owen Leitch who was made Commissioner of Police in the lead up to the Royal Commission. (See latest media coverage, a new witness alleges Finn arrived at her house two days before the murder in a state of panic. She says Finn said Leitch had threatened her)
Spike Daniels continued to speak out against corruption to anyone who would listen despite being marginalized, demoralized and humiliated. He retired a year after the Royal Commission but continued to speak out against corruption writing a memoir "With Equal Poise" about his experience in the WA Police Force. He died in 1992. Assistant Commissioner Les Ayton was the only commissioned officer to attend his funeral.
Superintendent Spike Daniels was a voice in the wilderness calling for change, No one was listening. They're still not listening.
Older madams from Perth's notorious Roe Street days said a new order had come to town and they were being repeatedly raided by police and shut down. They could no longer operate. Only three were allowed; madams Dorrie Flatman and Stella Strong, both from Sydney's Kings Cross; and a Flatman local recruit, Shirley Finn. Stella Strong leaving for Kalgoorlie after her brothel was fire-bombed in 1972. (Her Sydney brothel and Kalgoorlie brothel were also fire-bombed)
He sent numerous reports to the Consorting Squad, responsible for investigating prostitution. They ignored the reports and, on one occasion, denied the brothel even existed. When the Consorting Squad failed to act Spike decided to step in. He was treading on toes and would pay a terrible price.
Spike tasked his men to raid Shirley Finn and Dorrie Flatman's brothels. He was summonsed to speak with Chief Superintendent Owen Leitch who encouraged him to back down or retire on medical grounds. Spike refused.
In a public address to Rotary, Spike spoke out against corruption. Here's a snippet of what he had to say.
The mafia claim that in four years of illegal activity that they can completely legitimise their activities to be a threat to businessmen like yourselves. It is not sufficient to say, "This kind of thing has always been with us", for so has every other type of crime; it is the increase which is frightening. I have already told you - that all things seen in the east are already heading west."
Take heed from the history of the world. Where all the great crime empires have been built, these same so called victimless crimes. In their wake comes the associated crimes of protection, corruption, coercion and violence. The American experience is 'that where vice rules, fear also reigns' corrupting the very core of our society.
He received death threats and harrassment calls following his Rotary speech. He was warned to carry a gun and watch his back. The rumour was spread throughout the force that he was mad. He continued to act against the trade monopoly.
He was soon stripped of his command at Central, his phone line was removed and he was placed in a back room and ordered to rewrite police standing orders.
Archie Marshall was one of many that were inspired by Daniels speech and offered his support. His offices were broken into after he agreed to set up a corruption hotline with Daniels.
After the murder of Shirley Finn, Spike and Archie pushed for a Royal Commission. The rumour was spread that Spike Daniels was the prime suspect in the Finn murder.
The 75-76 Norris Royal Commission into Matters surrounding the Administration of the Law Relating to Prostitution. must rank as one of the most ineffectual, misguided, deluded and inept Royal Commissions in the history of Australia. The Premier, Sir Charles Court and his deputy (later Premier) Ray O'Conner playing their part to help ensure its terms of reference were as narrow and ineffectual as possible. Shirley Finn's driver, Leigh Varis, says the then Police Minister, Ray O'Conner had a close relationship with murder victim, Shirley Finn and she regularly drove them to locations around Perth.
Instead of focusing on the industry, the Royal Commission ignored the evidence of the very people at the centre of the trade, lauding police officers who would later leave the force under a cloud and dismissing evidence from Daniels, working girls and key witnesses who alleged corruption.
Spike was forced to defend his sanity and even the West Australian Newspaper said the focus of the 1975 Royal Commission would be on Daniel's sanity . Anticipating this tactic, Spike had previously consulted with esteemed psychiatrists, who were able to testify regarding the soundness of his mental state.
One witness was beaten up after alleging she paid police to operate. She was too terrified to turn up the next day to continue her testimony. The Judge was unconcerned, dragged her back into court and threatened her with contempt with the police snickering and laughing as he did so.
Police officers were warned publicly not to speak out or break ranks by Owen Leitch who was made Commissioner of Police in the lead up to the Royal Commission. (See latest media coverage, a new witness alleges Finn arrived at her house two days before the murder in a state of panic. She says Finn said Leitch had threatened her)
Spike Daniels continued to speak out against corruption to anyone who would listen despite being marginalized, demoralized and humiliated. He retired a year after the Royal Commission but continued to speak out against corruption writing a memoir "With Equal Poise" about his experience in the WA Police Force. He died in 1992. Assistant Commissioner Les Ayton was the only commissioned officer to attend his funeral.
Superintendent Spike Daniels was a voice in the wilderness calling for change, No one was listening. They're still not listening.