THE POLICE FORGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 64, 2 August 1912, Page 5

THE POLICE FORGE.

ANNUAL REPORT PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT. NEW COMMISSIONER'S REVIEW. (From our own correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The first report of the new Police Commissioner (Mr. Cullen, formerly inspector at Auckland) was presented to Parliament to-day. At the end of 1912 the force consisted of 835 men, of all ranks, as against 788 the.previous year. During the year thirteen members of the force retired on superannuation, three as medically unfit, two died, twenty-seven retired voluntarily, nine were called upon to resign, one was discharged, and one was dismissed. The total of offences reported to the police during the year ended December 31, as compared with the previous twelve months, decreased by 107. Auckland has the unenviable reputation of heading the list of offences reported, and arrests made. The detailed figures are as follows, the number of arrests to offences reported in each district being given in parenthesis:—Auckland 6622 (5978), Thames 842 (817), Napier 1874 (1833). Wanganui 2603 (2558), Wellington 6513 (5234), Greymouth 877 (816). Christchurch 3971 (3774), Dunedin 1940 (1807), Invercargil] 097 (657). The number of crimes listed as "serious" shows a falling off. In 1910 738 cases were reported and 818 arrests made, and in 1911 580 cases were reported and 474 arrests made. The record in regard to indecent and sexual offences reflects the opinions which have been expressed in the courts of the country. The detailed figures'for 1910 and 1911 show an increase of 35 cases, from 491 to 526. DRUNKENNESS.

The prosecutions for drunkenness increased by 19, compared with the previous year. Wellington has the unenviable record of topping the list, with 2737 convicted males and 306 females; Auckland comes next with 2587 and 170 respectively, Christchurch 1512 and 150, Wanganui 1380 and 52, Xapier 1002 and 33, and Dunedin gets down to 718 and 00 respectively. Invercargill, of nolicense fame, had 283 convicted males and 14 females. Wellington's total ineluded 328 foreign-going men or members of crews of vessels in port, and Auckland had 213 similarly described. Altogether no fewer than 10S9 males and S2O females were charged with drunkenness in the courts last year. In Wellington and suburbs 48 persons were convicted of drunkenness on Sundays, against. 34 in Auckland and suburbs, ~21 in Christchurch and suburbs, and only four in Dunedin and suburbs. During the year 33 hotel-keepers in the GrevmoutU district were convicted of breaches, 20 in Christchurch, 56 in Auckland, 15 in Wanganui, 12 in Wellington, 0 m Dunedin. and 9 in Invercargill district. The fines imposed in all districts amounted to £2(170. and the direct cost of detecting sly grog-selling was £fi(s2 lis. Last year (here were 152 prosecutions, resulting in 121 convictions, under the gaming laws, against 205 and 169 l-ospestively in 1910. ' FINGER PRINTS.

The finger-print system resulted in the conviction of ITS previous offenders during the year. The Department has now in its possession the complete criminal history of 2111 "finger-printed" offenders. CANDIDATES FOR THE FORCE. One hundred and three men were taken on during the year, the nationalities, religions and occupations being as follows: Nationalities: Australia S, England 20. Trcland 17, Nevf Zealand 41. Scotland 17. Religions: Baptist 1. Brethren 1, Church of England 5(5, Methodist ". l'resbyterians 28, Romnn Catholics 20. Wesleyans f>.