POLICE REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1919, Page 3

POLICE REPORT.

In the annual Police Report referring to the West Coast district Inspector Cruicksliank says:—On the 31st March last the strength of this district was: 1 Inspector, 2 Senior-Sergeants, 4 sergeants, 32 constables, 1 detective-ser-geant : total 40, being 6 constables short of the authorized strength of the district.

Two constables died during the year as a result of the influenza epidemic, 1 constable resigned voluntarily, and 1 constable was dismissed. The offences return for 1918 shows that 396 offences were reported, as compared with 412 in 1917—a net decrease of 16 offences. This decrease is chiefly accounted for under the headings rf— I Assaults, 8; deserting or absenting from merchant ships, 10; drunkenness, 50; theft (undescribed), 11; vagrancy, 7. There have been increase under the headings of—Gaming offences, 14; malicious injury to property, 13; neglected and criminal children, 21; theft from dwellings, 8. These do not exceed the usual fluctuations experienced from year to year, and call for no remarks. Of total number of offences reported, 378 have been accounted for either by arrest or summons, leaving 18 undetected or abandoned through insufficient evidence. No crimes of such a serious nature as to require comment have been committed during the year. With the exception of very frequent strikes at the coal mines, the district has been very orderly. The conduct of all ranks during the year lias been very good, only one constable having been fined for breaches of the regulations; the same constable having again committed himself, was dismissed from the service. Although reduced in numbers and hindered by sickness, all ranks have done their ve -y best cheerfully to cope with the extra duties developing on the police during the war.