AN INCREASE IN CRIME

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1062, 28 August 1930, Page 1

AN INCREASE IN CRIME

1,112 More Offences Last Year NEW ZEALAND POLICE REPORT Analysis of the Position THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Wednesday. THE criminal offences reported to the police during the year ended December 31 last show an aggregate net increase of 1,112 on the figures for the previous year, according to the annual report of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. W. G. Wohlmann, presented in the House today. The proportion of offences to population was 2.3 per cent., as against 2.25 in 1928.

The principal increases during the year appear under the following head ings:—Theft (petty), 13S; burglary, shop-breaking, etc., 106; arson, 36; mischief, 96; drunkenness, 211; failing to maintain wives, etc., 420; being found on licensed premises after hours, 135; selling liquor without a licence. 63; bankruptcy offences, 36; opium-smoking, etc., 36; breaches of the Motor Vehicles Act, 299. There were decreases in the following offences: —Thefts from dwellings, 43; false pretences, 181; obtaining credit by fraud, 43; false accounting by officials or clerks, 88* forgery’, 52; receiving stolen property, 32; selling liquor after hours, 96; breaches of the Arms Act, 42. The strength of the force in all ranks at March 31, 1930, was 1,137, a decrease of nine. During the year new stations were established at Miramar, Kopua. Gisborne railway construction works, Tankarakau and Tiroroa construction camps, and at the Waitaki hydro-electric works near Kurow.

The following return shows the number of offences reported in each police district during the year, the number of cases in which arrests or summonses resulted and the number in which no prosecution followed: Offences No. in in which which arrests no aror sum- rests Offences mouses or sums. Police dist. reported, resit’d, resit'ci. Whangarei . . . . 053 91S 35

ioiaib .. .. oi,oio zo t o The percentage of arrests or summonses resulting from offences reported during the year 1929 was 92.18, the figures for the preceding year being 92.4. SERIOUS CRIME Following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the previous year, 1925: Offences in Offences 'Which Arrests Reported. Resulted. 1928. 1929. 1928. 1929.

Indecent and sexual offences totalled 561, as against 551 in 1928. MORE DRUNKENNESS There xas an increaes of 209 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year, as compared with the previous year. The number charged wtih drunkenness in 1929 was 6,810 (6.491 males and 319 females), whereas in 1928 the number was 6.601 (6,29 S males and 303 females). Thirty-four per cent, of the males aid 49.5 per cent, of the

females had previous convictions recorded ajrainst them and 4.8 per cent. of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion. Of the males 315 were members of the crews of vessels in port. The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness in each 10,000 of the population for each year from 1924 to 1928 in Australia and New Zealand: Australia. New Zealand. 3 324 95.7 52.7 3925 97.3 58.6 1926 99.5 53.0 3927 101.2 44.« 1928 94.27 43.2 During the year there were 651 prosecutions, resulting in 383 convictions, against hotelkeepers, as compared with 667 prosecutions and 361 convictions in the previous year. There were 100 prosecutions for sly-grog selling and 86 convictions. Fines imposed on sly-grog sellers amounted to £1,342 10s 6d. AUCKLAND DECREASE REPORTS OF CO-ORDINATED DISTRICTS PROVINCIAL INCREASES THE &UH’S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Today. The decrease in crime in the Auckland district is continuing, according to the report of the former Auckland superintendent, Mr. TV. G. Wohlmann, in the annual report of the Police Department presented to Parliament today. During the year the strength of the district was increased by two constables at Otahuhu, says the report. “Although the decrease in the number of defaulters referred to in my last annual report has not been maintained,” says the superintendent, “the number of charges of breaches of the regulations this year being 37, against 28 men, as compared with 20 against 17 men in 1928, this year compares not unfavourably with 1927, when 46 charges were preferred against 25 men. A considerable proportion of the charges were relatively not serious. the conduct of the police on the whole being satisfactory. “I am constrained to repeat my observation made in my report of last year: To enable the efficient patrol of outlying areas of the City for the prevention and detection of crime to be carried out an increase in the number of motor-cycles with sidecars is essential. Our present motor-cycles are worn out, making it impossible to maintain the patrol which has contributed so materially to the safety of citizens and the preservation of property. I strongly support the application of the inspector in charge of the central district for two new highpowered motor-C3*cles with sidecars. DECREASE IN DISTRICT “It is gratifying to observe that the decrease in crime in the Auckland coordinated districts noted last year has been maintained. This year offences reported in the year ending December 31, 1929, totalled 7,852, being a decrease of 1,057, or 11.8 per cent, on those of the previous year. Of the total offences reported, 7,190 resulted in an arrest or summons, leaving 662 or 8.4 per cent, undetected, as compared with 8.5 per cent, for the previous year. “The officers in charge of the Auckland co-ordinated districts desire to repeat their recommendation in last year's report, that the age of drivers of licensed taxis should not be less than 21 years. 'With the object of controlling itinerant auctioneers it is their opinion that the Auctioneers Act should be amended to provide that licences should not be issued or renewed by a local authority without a recommendation from the police, as is the case with pawnbrokers and others. WHANGAREI REPORT Inspector Harvey, of the Whangarei district, reported that tiitre had been an increase of offences reported during the year, the total being 953 against 764 for the previous year, resulting in 918 prosecutions. The increase had been in common assault, thefts, breaches of the Motor Vehicles Act, and mischief. There was no serious crime committed during the year. The conduct of the members of the force had been good, only one defaulter having to be dealt with. Inspector Eccles. of the Hamilton district, reported that the number of offences for the year ended December, 1929, was 2,124, as compared with 1,767 during the previous year, showing an increase of 347 offences. Of the offences reported 1,947 were accounted for by an arrest or a summons, leaving 177 undetected. Of the I cases dealt with 56 were committed j for trial, of which 48 were convicted, i The increase in the number of ! offences reported is probably due to the increase in the resident populai tion and also to an increase in the floating population in this district.

Auckland co- . ordinated dsts. 7.852 7,190 Hamilton . . . . 2.124 Gisborne . . . . 1.362 Napier 1,662 1,547 115 New Plymouth 1,422 1.382 40 "W anganui . . . . 1,152 1,110 42 Palmerston X. . 1.475 1,382 W elling-ton coordinated dsts. 5,378 5,052 326 Nelson .... 788 702 86 Greymouth . . . . 1,627 1,604 23 Christchurch coordinated dsts. 4.341 3,587 754 Timaru 1,583 1,415 168 Invarcargill 1,311 1,252 59 Totals .. .. 34,250 31,575 2675

Arson .... 20 Robbery and 56 17 50 aggrava ted robbery. . . 10 2 8 2 Burglary, breakshops, dwellings, etc. . 986 1,002 546 783 Forgery and uttering . . 208 146 200 131 Murder ... 2 Attempted mur6 2 5 der 2 5 3 Rape .... 2 6 Receiving . . 172 Wounding with 140 171 13S intent ... 1 4 1 4 Totals . . . 1,415 1,467 ~960 1.132