POLICE REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 201, 14 August 1908, Page 2

POLICE REPORT.

The annual report of the Commissioner of Police oil the police forces of tho ])» minion has been laid before Parliament. I p lo .'INI December last the. nuuilier of odeuces reported to tlie police during the year show an aggregate net ineiva-e of 201-1. compared -with the previous '• These iigures lluctuate considerably,'' it is reported, ''from year v year, and I ho increase shown this yeir consists nrineipnlly in cases of drunkenness i<H)3) and other minor offence#.." There were 182 prosecutions for <ly grog-scMing. resulling in 125 convictions, n gainst US prosecutions and 11:3 eonviclions during the preceding year. "Special ladies." says tin Commi.—ioner, "are still resorted to wiia Mi: l vi'-v\' In fvadica')* litis class of (',?!»- sidering the dillii-uliy "vp ■ --1.-in■";! in In inviii l .*' nlt'eiidri's \> justice, cm: I he 1 v hob >1 y 1 i, k-p' v.vil in che(.\. 1/ ill" 1 i- ;i i J I /(•'«* JI ing A«*t, iMfij I '. <i ic 11 pities re-o riclior. < on :!it' ini i-r-fii!'. ii;o» 11 :* li.jimr in\, | l() . j i < i' I ■ < 1 (1.3- !M'i -A V, ere (• \ i 1 • 1: > I: • 11 in .! 1 1p!y 10 IS of I!i( *»;• lli(' . \ e 1 ' W Si it'll Idee!- villi n.iiive nn-!i.*i»ii-e sirejisi 1 a • j rlro.-sit. nml.l nwitsiniii siri."' r I I SMliri'vi-'iiHi .■ ■■■.' -nil f 1 imi'ni:is 1 ■ Hii-' '!>' 'ir-'s ! ini|io=ri! 011 i l '. set' ilrr'- « I!H|7 i 1 nilimil!:"il In e'Sllt ■' ,JI!! Ml , ''IHJ. .Til'' dii'e't <■[»•■(. 'o I:!'* ■ II del eetiiU:" a Mil ij;i" si f , ■'•ilfix ,lin ' in K ■the year was ;l. SOI.iII, or i •' )K2 l'. ~s l/li 1 n Die anou il'. of i;;i- j jfiitfd. '''he?! l were prr<socni'.ion>\ T'MiUing in 1 -12 cojivicl Vms. dnrin? 'ill' l j >'••l' under the laws-, agrnhift 3 proeeeutioiis and. in j ] ?! 6. "flood results," Qojvi-

of the Gaining ami Lotteries Act Anu'udmcnt Act, 11MJ7. Betting and gaming generally have been grimily ie- i duced, and the inducements to bet minimised. The Act does not, however, provide against .betting at coursing meetings, shooting competitions or matches, and pigeon shooting, which provisions seem necessary." ..There has been a| diminution of ten in the number of , serious crimes reported during the yea'-, as compared with the. previous your. Burglary eases show an increase of 35, " but," says the report, •• there is noth- | iug abnormal in this, as all offences vary considerably in number from year to year, and on a live years 1 average basis the .present number—-350—is il below the average yearly number reported." What are described as serious crimes—arson, assault and robbery, burglary, Hoarder, rape, and so on—show a decrease. In lOOli thv number of oll'euces reported was 558, anil the number of arrests was 445. In 1907 there were alls offences reported, and 424 mrests. The numbi'r of indecent assaults and sexual olfeutes dealt with during the year was 451, being DO in excess of the previous year. The majority (3410. were cases of indecent exposure or behaviour. "Tho exemplary punishinenl recently indicted for outrages on giris of tender years," says the Commissioner, "no doubi will have n salutary ell'ecl."