Soberer—But More Criminal

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 153, 19 September 1927, Page 12

Soberer —But More Criminal

DOMINION’S OFFENCES ANNUAL POLICE REPORT Soberer yet more criminal tendencies in the population of New Zealand are disclosed by the police report for 1926. An aggregate net increase of 1,145 on the figures; for 1925 is recorded in offences reported to the police. The proportion of offences to the population has risen from *2.16 to every 100 persons to 2.19 in 1926. The offences reported numbered 31,615, compared with 30,470 in the preceding year. in 29,199 cases, or 92£ per cent., arrests or summonses resulted. The percentage in 1925 was 94. In 1,446 cases accused persons were committed for trial, there were 25,937 summary convictions, and 1,816 charges were dismissed. There were Supreme Court convictions in 1,200 cases. TABLE OF COMPARISON Comparison in the principal increases and decreases is contained in the following table:

The number of serious crimes reported was 1.224, and 847 arrests resulted. The corresponding figures for 1925 were 1,023 and 808. In 850 cases of burglary reported there were 511 arrests. Murders numbered 13, and there were nine arrests, compared with six murders and five arrests in 1925. Indecent and sexual offences numbered 607, compared with 552 in 1925. There were 420 prosecutions for gaming offences and 373 convictions, compared with 432 and 393 respectively in 1925. Prosecutions of bookmakers numbered 129 there were 115 convictions, and fines totalled £3,400. AUCKLAND FIGURES In the Auckland police district a total of 8,281 offences was reported, as compared with 5,544 in the previous year; but the decrease of 263 is accounted for by the absence of 457 breaches of the Shipping and Seamen Act on occasion of the shipping strike in 1925. In the total of other offences there was this year an increase of 194. Of the total offences reported. 7,299 were accounted for by arrests or summonses, leaving 982 undetected. INCREASE AT HAMILTON In the Hamilton district the number of offences reported during tlie year was 3,017. as against 2,501 for the previous year, being an increase of 516. Theft (undescribed), drunkenness, obscene language, vagrancy, etc., were responsible for most of the increase. There was no crime of a very serious nature during the year. A decrease from 949 to 890 in offences was reported in the Whangarei district, but an increase in serious offences such as burglary and breaking and entering.

INCREASES 1925. 1926. DifferTheft (undescribed) . 4,1 46 4,952 806 Theft trorn dwellings 295 325 30 Theft from dwellings (attempted) ... 13 7S 65 Burglary, etc .... 211 Indecency 224 3! 2 88 Obscene language . . 66:> 742 \ agrancy offences 598 234 Unlawful use of motor cars, horses, etc. . . 9 79! 47.T 201 Failure to maintain wives, etc 2,066 706 Breaches of Arms Act 313 440 127 Breaches of Motor Vehicles Act . 494 1,178 684 False pretences . . . 009 717 108 DECREASES Breaches of the peace . 6S6 152 Drunkenness .... 7,630 7,261 424 Selling liquor after hours 560 435 125 Being found on licensed premises after hours 1,902 1,565 387 Ship-desertion . . . 217 132 Disciplinary offences o ships . S34 52 782