CRIMINAL OFFENCES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 August 1924, Page 5

CRIMINAL OFFENCES.

DECLINE IN MOST SERIOUS CASES. (By Telegraph.—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. The criminal statistics attached to the annual report of the Commissioner of Police show a diminution in. serious crimes in New Zealand during 1923, though the aggregate of offences increased by 1470, the main contributory being drunkenness. On the latter point the Commissioner remarks that there has been a slight increase in the number of persons arrested for drunkenness during the year, viz., 626. but as the previous year’s returns showed a phenomenal decrease the present year’s figures call for no comment. The police, continues the report, are frequently criticised for not- -suppressing the bookmakers. They might with equal reason be blamed for not suppressing all crime. They do their best with the means at their disposal, -and will continue to do so, but while the general public support the bookmakers and sympathise with them, as indicated by acquittals by juries of persons charged with bookmaking on clear evidence it is not so easy to suppress them as at first sight- appears. The police have been active "in this direction during the year, and large fines have been inflicted by magistrates. There were 129 less burglaries and breaking and entering cases, but there was an increase of- 86 forgeries. There were 7 murders, compared with 5 the previous year, -and in 6 cases the offender was arrested. The only case in which no arrest was made was that of the murder of Mrs Oates at Wanganui, and the inquiries are still being continued