THE WORK OF THE POLICE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 82, 31 December 1920, Page 6

THE WORK OF THE POLICE

« AN EXCELLENT liECOHD.

The polico records (hiring the past year show that there has been an increase in serious crimes, for there has been a series of murders. The Auckland Post Office murder, and the killing of Mr. Eyre, a: fanner at Pukekawa, were sheeted homo to the murderers, and they liavo iiaid the penalty. I'lio murder of' Mrs. Hobbend iii this city in March last still remains a. mystery. The shooting of young Wagstaff in Timaru has still to be investigated, and the trial of the alleged murderer is to tako place in Christchurch at the next sitting of the Supreme Court in that city. There'liave been quite a number of burglaries by adults and juveniles, but many ol' the crimes haio been sheeted home. Petty thefts have bpca numerous, forgery, issuing valueless cheques, and tho usual "drunks," vagrants, and. users of obscene language have kept the police busy. "Window-smashing appeared to bo the special prijnk of some misguided individual in Wellington, and many valuable sheets of plate glass in shop windows were smashed. The culprit was never apprehended, but the vigilance of the polico has not relaxed because of the apparent cessation of this class of offence. Cargo pillagings and thefts from ships have decreased possibly because the Magistrates have inflicted imprisonmont> without any option of a fine. Latterly the police have shown considerable activity in respect to the Gaming Act, and three individuals have already been heavily lined for keeping a common gaming house, and others are awaiting trial at tho Supreme Court for allegedly carrying on bonkmaking. In "Wellington South a gang of juvenile thieves and burglars | whs broken up. These lads operated for sonic months, and broke into factories, schools, churches, and shops. The motor traffic regulations have also kept the polico "busy during the year, and numerous cases of breaches of the traffic bylaws have been brought before the Magistrate's Court. The speed maniac is still to be seen. The police duties do not stop at patrolling the streets and apprehending criminals for they have numerous inquiries to make on behalf of other Government. Departments, which inquiries cause a ■rrent ileal of work. The Arms Act, which comes into force to-morrow, will in all probability add to the work and tho worries of the police officials. The personnel of the force in the three city stations and in most of the suburban stations, nuiiVber about tlio same as in 1010, but recruits appear to bo coining forward now. and the I raining depot, in Wellington South is to be reopened very Bhortlv. If there is any slackening in the labour market recruits will flock to join the force, for the conditions now ore infinitely better than they were eight oc ten years ago.