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In pictures: Policing in the ‘50s 

1 min read·August 10, 2018 - 4:24PM
News Corp Australia Network

IT was the decade that saw the Queen’s first tour of Australia, a dramatic defection by Soviet spies and the spectacle of the Melbourne Olympics.

Australian police were on hand for these events and more, as well as a catalogue of crime from shocking murders to the more mundane.

This collection of 1950s’ photos from our archives celebrates their efforts, showing officers at work, in training and behind the scenes, from the outback to the city.

1955: Police and airport staff keep Johnnie Ray fans back as the American singing sensation arrives at Eagle Farm Airport, Queensland.
1955: Police and airport staff keep Johnnie Ray fans back as the American singing sensation arrives at Eagle Farm Airport, Queensland.
1956: New cadets crawl under police greys during training in South Australia.
1956: New cadets crawl under police greys during training in South Australia.
1955: Alice in Wonderland characters wave to a police escort during a Christmas parade in Melbourne.
1955: Alice in Wonderland characters wave to a police escort during a Christmas parade in Melbourne.

MORE PHOTOS: Policing in the ’60s | Policing in the ’70s

1958: Fingerprint expert Mr. H.E. Harrison dusts a street sign in Brooklyn Park, Adelaide, searching in vain for fingerprints after it was damaged by vandals.
1958: Fingerprint expert Mr. H.E. Harrison dusts a street sign in Brooklyn Park, Adelaide, searching in vain for fingerprints after it was damaged by vandals.
1952: Victorian officers Alice Walmsley and Gail Beeson demonstrate target practice for radio station 3UZ.
1952: Victorian officers Alice Walmsley and Gail Beeson demonstrate target practice for radio station 3UZ.
1954: Darwin officer Sergeant Greg Ryall puts Soviet courier Valery Karpinsky in a headlock to prevent him reaching his gun during the defection of former Soviet spy Evdokia (Eva) Petrov.
1954: Darwin officer Sergeant Greg Ryall puts Soviet courier Valery Karpinsky in a headlock to prevent him reaching his gun during the defection of former Soviet spy Evdokia (Eva) Petrov.
1953: Les Penhall, Tony Kelly, centre, and Geoff Milgate, right, ride out from Curtin Springs in the Northern Territory on the last camel patrol ever undertaken by police and patrol officers.
1953: Les Penhall, Tony Kelly, centre, and Geoff Milgate, right, ride out from Curtin Springs in the Northern Territory on the last camel patrol ever undertaken by police and patrol officers.
1956: Part of £1000 worth of stolen goods recovered by South Australia police in raids on suburban homes is checked at headquarters by Detective Sergeant E. Canny, Detective K. Moran and Constable D. O'Doherty.
1956: Part of £1000 worth of stolen goods recovered by South Australia police in raids on suburban homes is checked at headquarters by Detective Sergeant E. Canny, Detective K. Moran and Constable D. O'Doherty.
1952: The murder of 23-year-old Betty Shanks shocked the nation and police set up a special communications room in the Brisbane CIB offices to co-ordinate one of the biggest manhunts in Queensland's history, led by Inspector J.E. Donovan (in glasses and braces). The crime remains unsolved to this day.
1952: The murder of 23-year-old Betty Shanks shocked the nation and police set up a special communications room in the Brisbane CIB offices to co-ordinate one of the biggest manhunts in Queensland's history, led by Inspector J.E. Donovan (in glasses and braces). The crime remains unsolved to this day.
1953: Victorian detectives investigate the murder of 14-year-old Shirley Collins, of Reservoir, at Mt Martha. In the foreground Det Sgt J Matthews is showing fingerprint expert Supt A Martin where the girl fled from her attacker.
1953: Victorian detectives investigate the murder of 14-year-old Shirley Collins, of Reservoir, at Mt Martha. In the foreground Det Sgt J Matthews is showing fingerprint expert Supt A Martin where the girl fled from her attacker.
1953: Harry Ware trains police rescue recruits in surf rescue techniques at Clovelly, New South Wales.
1953: Harry Ware trains police rescue recruits in surf rescue techniques at Clovelly, New South Wales.
1956: Police escort the Olympic torch as a runner carries it along Collins Street, Melbourne.
1956: Police escort the Olympic torch as a runner carries it along Collins Street, Melbourne.
1959: A detective questions guests at a pyjama party at the Beachcomber private hotel in Surfers Paradise after 10 licensing squad police made their second raid on the premises.
1959: A detective questions guests at a pyjama party at the Beachcomber private hotel in Surfers Paradise after 10 licensing squad police made their second raid on the premises.
1957: Police and Aboriginal trackers search for clues to the murders of Thyra Bowman, her 14-year-old daughter Wendy and family friend Thomas Whelan at Sundown Station in the northern South Australia outback.
1957: Police and Aboriginal trackers search for clues to the murders of Thyra Bowman, her 14-year-old daughter Wendy and family friend Thomas Whelan at Sundown Station in the northern South Australia outback.
1954: As the Queen inspected her mounted escort in Melbourne, one of the police greys closed his eyes and bowed.
1954: As the Queen inspected her mounted escort in Melbourne, one of the police greys closed his eyes and bowed.
1955: New South Wales police recover a lost child from bushland.
1955: New South Wales police recover a lost child from bushland.
1957: Umpire Woolfe is escorted by police from the ground at an Essendon v Hawthorn VFL match. Woolfe was pelted with rubbish and hooted on one of the noisiest demonstrations ever seen at Windy Hill.
1957: Umpire Woolfe is escorted by police from the ground at an Essendon v Hawthorn VFL match. Woolfe was pelted with rubbish and hooted on one of the noisiest demonstrations ever seen at Windy Hill.
Early 1950s: A South Australian traffic officer carries out a driver’s licence check. The motorbike in the foreground is a 1950 Triumph 650cc.
Early 1950s: A South Australian traffic officer carries out a driver’s licence check. The motorbike in the foreground is a 1950 Triumph 650cc.
1957: Police constable J V Kellet assists in the rescue of a cow that fell into the River Torrens near the Adelaide Weir.
1957: Police constable J V Kellet assists in the rescue of a cow that fell into the River Torrens near the Adelaide Weir.
1950s: The communications centre at police headquarters in Russell St, Melbourne.
1950s: The communications centre at police headquarters in Russell St, Melbourne.
1957: Police hold back the crush of shoppers at BCC market, one of 25 stores in the new Allan and Stark Ltd drive-in shopping centre at Chermside, Brisbane.
1957: Police hold back the crush of shoppers at BCC market, one of 25 stores in the new Allan and Stark Ltd drive-in shopping centre at Chermside, Brisbane.
1958: The passing out parade for 24 new police constables at the Police Depot, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane.
1958: The passing out parade for 24 new police constables at the Police Depot, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane.
1951: South Australian police officer Dorothy Pyatt, who served for many years in the outback, sleeps in a camp stretcher balanced on kerosene cases in the derelict police cell at Coober Pedy.
1951: South Australian police officer Dorothy Pyatt, who served for many years in the outback, sleeps in a camp stretcher balanced on kerosene cases in the derelict police cell at Coober Pedy.
1959: Darwin traffic officers Trevor McKew, Peter Hamon, Ron Natt and Andy McNeill.
1959: Darwin traffic officers Trevor McKew, Peter Hamon, Ron Natt and Andy McNeill.
1957: Police officers examine a weapon used in the triple murder of Tom and Anna Galantomos and their daughter Phoheria at their home in Smith Street, Southwark, Adelaide.
1957: Police officers examine a weapon used in the triple murder of Tom and Anna Galantomos and their daughter Phoheria at their home in Smith Street, Southwark, Adelaide.
1957: Training for the SA Police Underwater Rescue Squad takes place in a swimming pool, with MTC R.E. McCallum showing MTC B.R. Bald how to adjust his suit and equipment.
1957: Training for the SA Police Underwater Rescue Squad takes place in a swimming pool, with MTC R.E. McCallum showing MTC B.R. Bald how to adjust his suit and equipment.
1959: Ava Gardner hides her face from disappointed fans as she leaves a restaurant in Collins St, Melbourne, with a police escort. The star was in the city to film <i>On The Beach</i> with Gregory Peck.
1959: Ava Gardner hides her face from disappointed fans as she leaves a restaurant in Collins St, Melbourne, with a police escort. The star was in the city to film On The Beach with Gregory Peck.
1959: In South Australia, gas-masked members of CIB demonstrate a new tear gas riot gun. Left to right: Detective D. O'Doherty, Detective-Sergeant L. Harper, Detective-Sergeant L. Brown and Detectives J. Zeunert and B. Stewart.
1959: In South Australia, gas-masked members of CIB demonstrate a new tear gas riot gun. Left to right: Detective D. O'Doherty, Detective-Sergeant L. Harper, Detective-Sergeant L. Brown and Detectives J. Zeunert and B. Stewart.
1955: A police officer checks the Wickham Terrace, Brisbane scene where a fatal shooting and bombing rampage by German immigrant Karl Kast ended with his suicide. Two doctors died in the attack and a third was shot several times. Kast was apparently angry at medical failure to support his claims of ongoing pain after a workplace accident.
1955: A police officer checks the Wickham Terrace, Brisbane scene where a fatal shooting and bombing rampage by German immigrant Karl Kast ended with his suicide. Two doctors died in the attack and a third was shot several times. Kast was apparently angry at medical failure to support his claims of ongoing pain after a workplace accident.
1957: First-class Constable G. Mason Clark, trainer and kennel-master at the Weapons Research Establishment in Salisbury, South Australia, with police dog Major and D. Kruger, right.
1957: First-class Constable G. Mason Clark, trainer and kennel-master at the Weapons Research Establishment in Salisbury, South Australia, with police dog Major and D. Kruger, right.

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