POLICE FORCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1921, Page 4

POLICE FORCE.

INCREASE OF CRIME. WELLINGTON, Dec 12. Tile :iiinu:i| report on the police force of New Zealand to March 31st Inst was present, to I’arliainem to-day. The force numbered 882, an increase of 38 during the year. The criminal statistics to December 31st last show an aggregate net increase of 1828 on the (iffores of 1910." The proportion of offences to the popnhiti n was 2.09 per cent, us against 1.9!) the previous year. 'l'lie principal increases during the year appear under the following headings :—Theft (nndescrihed), 601 : house or shop-breaking, 39; receiving stolen goods, 28; forgery 42; drunkenness. 461 ; using profane indecent, or obscene language 26; vagrancy offences 101 ; unlawfully using motor-car;- 121 ; failing to maintain wives, 267; embezzling cargo 30: being found oil licensed promises after hours, 228; unlawful hefting. 32. There were decreases in the followin/: Assault (common!, 88; mischief. 78: assaulting or obstructing police, 69: gaming with instruments, 68; selling liquor after hours, 96: breaches of prohibition orders 7 r ending from industrial schools 41 ; ship deser tion. 36. Ninety-six men were permanently np-| pointed to the force during the year, their birthplaces, religious and occupations being as follows: —Birthplaces: New Zealand, 7<T; England, 9; Scotland 4: Wales, 1; Ireland, 7; Australia, I: Norway 1. Religions; Church of England. 36; Roman Catholic, 24; I’reshyterian, 21 ; Methodist, 12; Brethren, 1 ; Church of Christ, 1 ; Salvation Army, I. The administration in connection with the initiation of the Arms Act entailed a great ileal of extra/ work upon the police. There is no reason to believe that evasion of the duty to register has taken place to any great extent, but all evasions will be discovered sooner or later with varying consequences to the offenders', according to the degree of delay or evasion. It is considered that the Act, when in full operation for some time, will have a beneficial effect in reducing the number of fatalities due to the use" of firearmik “'riie criminal statistics for 1920,” says the Commissioner of Police “show an extraordinary number of eases of homicide, there being thirteen oases of murder and thirteen of manslaughter. There were also eight eases of attempted murder. Tt is impossible to assign any reason for such an extraordinary number. No common in the conditions of the people can be discovered which would account for it. The circumstances in which the crimes were committed indicate that they were not preventive hy any polite measures. As many of the crimes were committed with firearms, it is believed that the operation of the Arms Art will eventually, thought not immediately, reduce the number of fatalities due to tile criminal use of firearms.” The Commissioner adds that ihe skill and ability displayed in detecting some I of tbe murder eases which were of an j excepionally difficult nature, show that j we have in New Zealand a police force ! which may compare favourably with J any similar body in the Empire.