THE POLICE FORCE OF THE DOMINION. (ANNUAL REPORT ON.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1942 Session I, H-16

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1942. NEW ZEALAND.

THE POLICE FORCE OF THE DOMINION. (ANNUAL REPORT ON.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Commissioner of Police to the Hon. the Minister in Charge or Police Department. Police Department, Wellington, 7th July, 1942. I have the honour to present the annual report on the Police Force for the year ended 31st March last. Strength of Force. —On the 31st March last the number of members of the Force of all ranks was 1,599, being an increase of ninety during the year. The total is made up as follows : 5 Superintendents, 17 Inspectors, 7 Sub-Inspectors, 41 senior sergeants, 118 sergeants, 1,030 constables, 276 temporary constables, 6 senior detectives, 36 detective-sergeants, and 63 detectives. There were also 3 district constables, 1 Native constable, 9 police-women, 8 matrons, and 15 police surgeons. The following are the losses in personnel for the year ended 31st March last: Retired on pension under the Public Service Superannuation Act, 10 ; retired as medically unfit, 7 ; died, 11 ; resigned voluntarily, 18 ; dismissed, 12 ; total, 58. Stations. —New stations were established during the year at St. Helier's Bay, Oneroa, and Mount Maunganui, and the stations at Kohimarama and Surfdale were closed. The name of the station at Rolleston was changed to Burnham. Criminal Statistics. —The criminal statistics (Appendix A) deal with offences reported to the police during the year ended 31st December last, and show an aggregate net decrease of 6,450 on the figures of 1940. The percentage of offences to the population was 2-35, as against 2-75 the previous year. The number of offences reported during the year was 38,559, the number of cases in which arrests or summonses resulted was 35,896, leaving 2,663 cases in which no prosecution followed. The percentage of arrests or summonses resulting from offences reported during the year 1941 was 93-09, the figures of the preceding year being 92-5. There was a decrease in the number of serious crimes as compared with the previous year, and also in the number of indecent and sexual offences. Drunkenness. —There has been a decrease of 583 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1941 was 4,887 (4,752 males and 135 females), whereas in 1940 the number was 5,470 (5,317 males and 153 females). One thousand four hundred and eighteen males (29-84 per cent.) and 37 females (27-4 per cent.) had previous convictions recorded against them, and 4-04 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion. Prosecutions against HotelJceepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows a decrease of 106 as compared with the preceding year. There were 514 prosecutions, resulting in 409 convictions, during 1941, as against 620 prosecutions and 476 convictions in 1940. Sly-grog Selling. —There were 100 prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license,, resulting in 86 convictions, and there were also 21 prosecutions and convictions for other offences, against the provisions of the Licensing Act in force in no-license districts. The fines imposed on the sly-grog sellers during the year 1941 amounted to £1,900. Gaming Offences. —There were 500 prosecutions, resulting in 469 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 394 prosecutions and 376 convictions in 1940. Two hundred and forty-five prosecutions in connection with bookmaking during the year ended 31st March, 1942, resulted in 238 convictions, the amount of fines imposed being £9,328.

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Growth of Department. —The following return shows the growth of the Department, the population, and the total number of offences (irrespective of by-law offences) reported, and in which arrests or summonses resulted, at each tenth year since 1877, prior to which date each province in the Dominion had its own Police Force. The figures for 1939, 1940, and 1941 are also shown

Criminal Registration Branch.—At Headquarters during the year the finger impressions of 3,336 persons were received, classified, indexed, and filed ; 196 persons were identified as previous offenders who, had it not been for the finger-print system, would have passed as first offenders ; 1,399 photographs were taken by the photographers attached to the Branch ; the photographs of 2,518 prisoners (4,340 photographs) were received and dealt with ; 416 photographs were reproduced in the Police Gazette ; 14 wanted persons located ; and 1 unknown deceased person identified by finger-prints. Finger-prints left by offenders when committing 19 crimes were identified as belonging to 17 persons, who were prosecuted—ll pleaded guilty, 1 pleaded guilty to two charges of breakingentering and theft after hearing the evidence at the Lower Court, 1 committed suicide while awaiting trial, and the remaining 4 were found guilty at the Supreme Courts. Finger-prints of 237 persons were received for inquiry from other countries, of which 23 were identified as those of persons previously convicted in New Zealand ; the finger impressions of 42 New Zealand offenders were sent overseas for inquiry, 22 being identified as having been previously convicted outside this Dominion. It is interesting to note that in New Zealand the finger-print system has been responsible for the identification of 7,887 persons since it was introduced in 1903. Auckland Criminal Registration Branch.—During the year, 1,072 prisoners' finger-prints were received and duly classified, searched, and filed. The photographs of 136 prisoners were taken and 680 prints were taken from the negatives ; also a number of photographs of scenes of crimes and motor accidents were taken. The total number of photographs produced by the Branch during the year was 1,100. The remanded prisoner forms, together with the results of the cases inserted, for 4-57 prisoners were dealt with. . . In eight cases offenders, who would not otherwise have been known as having been previously convicted, were traced by their finger-prints, and in ten other cases finger-prints left by offenders when committing crimes were identified and the offenders duly arrested and dealt with by the Courts. Arms Bureau. —The Arms Bureau has been fully occupied during the year with the usual work connected with accidents with firearms, the campaign for safer shooting, and investigation in regard to offences of various kinds in which metal objects are involved. Apart from this work the Department, at the request of the Director of National Service, has arranged that the Officer in Charge of the Arms Bureau assist as honorary armourer in relation to firearms for the Home Guard. Although this has involved long hours of extra work, it has been cheerfully undertaken. Some hundreds of various kinds of weapons suitable for use by the armed forces were also examined and classified by the Arms Bureau, which was consulted by members of the forces in regard to technical matters relating to these and other small arms. The accident rate with firearms has fallen to a lower point than has been recorded in the seven years that the Arms Bureau has collected statistics on this subject. There were 37 accidents reported, of which 17 were fatal These were chiefly accounted for by the three commonest arms in circulation— the 12-gauge shotgun, the -22 rifle, and the -303 service rifle. Only one revolver case was reported, and this was not fatal. Police Buildings, do. —The following works in connection with police-stations were carried out during the year by the Public Works Department New stations were erected at Cienavy, Mount Maunganui, Wanaka, and Oneroa (Waiheke Island), and stations at Norsewood. and Havelock are nearing completion. New offices were built at Kaitaia, Te Awamutu, and South Dunedin; offices and constable's residence at Temuka ; and a new lock-up

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.2 § Offences Arrests for i S „ .. , Cost per nff0 , lr , 0 „ where Drunkenness T«ar "5 lo •& 3 Total. t> f®. • Inhabit- Population. ° , Arrests or (included in *' ear " S3 -g | Population., F reported. g ummonsea "Offences id § S | S resulted. reported"). O fc-j Q O - 1878 25 90 14 329 458 1 to 944 * 432,352 14,157 13,959 6,668 1888 13 69 17 388 487 1 to 1,328 3/lf 646,913 12,897 11,854 5,387 1898 7 56 16 457 536 1 to 1,435 2/8 768,910 16,378 14,730 5,532 1908 15 83 32 604 734 1 to 1,331 3/2J 977,215 23,510 22,484 10,343 1918 20 111 38 732t 901 1 to 1,274 4/6| 1,147,391 19,067 18,043 7,228 1928 23 127 54 91311,117 1 to 1,301 5/9" 1,453,517 33,138 30,622 6,601 1938 26 145 93 1,164-f 1,428 1 to 1,123 7/6 1,604,479 44,308 41,618 5,446 1939 27 148 91 l,173f 1,439 1 to 1,129 7/5f- 1,624,714 46,378 43,162 5,935 1940 27 149 90 1,191f 1,457 ltol,126 7/8£ 1,640,901 45,009 41,619 5,470 1941 28 155 97 l,229f 1,509 1 to 1,084 7/11J 1,636,230 38,559 35,896 4,887 1942 29 159 105 1,30811,599 1 to 1,022 8/3| 1,634,338 * Not obtainable. t Includes temporary constables.

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at Nasfeby. Motor-garages were provided at North-east Valley, Nelson, Lower Riccarton, Paeroa, Phillipstown, Hawera, and Northcote, and at Superintendent's and Inspector's residences at Wellington. Sites for police-stations were acquired at Karamea, Kerepehi, Ngongotaha, Petone, Riversdale, Millerton, and Dobson, and a Sub-Inspector's residence was purchased at Hataitai (Wellington). Repairs, renovations, and improvements were also effected at many stations throughout the Dominion. General. Recruiting. —Owing to war conditions it became necessary to strengthen the Force in order to cope with the increased demand on the services of the police. As time goes on it becomes increasingly difficult to secure the right type of recruit, as every endeavour is made to avoid interference with recruiting for the armed services. I have found it necessary to modify considerably the requirements relating to -the qualifications of candidates. Nevertheless-, men of a fairly good type have been obtained, but not in the number required. The Force is at present about 25 men below strength, and at least a further 47 are required for duties in connection with shipping. Those taken on during the past year have had no special course of training. They are, however, given lectures regularly and are coached by a sergeant who is constantly in touch with them. Many of the permanent members of the Force applied for permission to join the armed forces, but the applications had to be refused on account of the necessity of retaining all trained personnel. Efficiency. —Notwithstanding the fact that there are a large number of men in the Force with short service the standard of efficiency has been well maintained. Although there has been a decrease compared with the previous year, there has still been a good deal of serious crime, including 12 murders —6 of which occurred at Koiterangi., West Coast, 4of the victims being members of the Force and 2 being members of the Home Guard. In. all the murder cases the offenders Were arrested. Conduct of Police. —The general conduct of the police has been very satisfactory. All branches of the Service have worked harmoniously, with the result that excellent work has been accomplished. All have had extra work to perform, which has been undertaken cheerfully. The hours worked far exceed the average day of eight hours. Transport.—The efficiency in this Department has been well maintained during the year. A great deal of extra travelling has had to be undertaken to see that vital points are being given the supervision their importance demands. Great difficulty is being experienced in getting tires to keep the cars of our country constables in efficient order. Tires capable of being retreaded are being so treated, the Department meeting portion of the cost in all cases where an annual .motor-car allowance is granted. At present the tire position is acute. Buildings. —So far as was practicable with the skilled tradesmen available further progress was made in improving and modernizing old buildings that were of sound structure. The erection of new buildings already authorized has to stand over in the meantime. Liquor at Dances. —The legislation in respect of this class of offence is working very well. I cannot say that the practice is on the wane. In some districts it certainly is, as the Magistrates in those districts have made it too expensive for the offenders by imposing salutary fines, while in a few other districts where only nominal fines have been inflicted there is no reduction in the number of the offences reported. It is a good piece of legislation, and while the police are particularly vigilant in respect of the enforcement of it it is very regrettable that there is not any noticeable decline in the number of prosecutions. Aliens. —Much time is taken up in connection with aliens, but it is time well spent. A lot of wild rumours and stupid reports are circulated about aliens from time to time. All these have to be investigated and probed. Nothing is left to chance. War Activities. —In addition to the supervision of wharves, shipping, and the many vital points such as cables, oil installations, freezing-works, fertilizer-works, power-stations, and numerous other places, considerable time is given to the three Services and the National Service Department in assisting them wherever and whenever required. This work is growing rapidly. Military defaulters and national service defaulters take up a great deal of our time in inquiries. The relationship with all these Departments is most harmonious. Inquiries into breaches of the Censorship Regulations, Lighting Restrictions Regulations, and Oil Fuel Regulations also take up much of our time. Many prosecutions have been taken on behalf of other Departments for breaches of these and other war regulations. Water Patrol Police. —During the year a Police Water Patrol was instituted at Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton, and suitable launches were obtained and manned by constables. Excellent work is being done in each, place. A number of persons have been saved from drowning by our launch in Wellington. Were it- not for the presence of the launch certainly some lives would have been lost through the capsizing of dinghys, yachts, and rowing-boats. Women Police. —Since my last report the trainees have completed their training and have been posted to the four centres. They are attached to the Defective Branch of the Service, where they are doing excellent work. They investigate offences where women and children are concerned, and give special attention to young girls out late at night and apparently not under parental control. Additional Staff required. —In order to cope with the additional work, due to war activities principally, I beg to ask for authority for three additional sergeants and eighteen constables at an annual cost of £7,840, the amount required for this financial year being £5,880. D. J. Cummings, Commissioner of Police.

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APPENDIX A. Return showing the Number of Offences reported, the Number of Offences for which Persons were apprehended or summoned, and Comparison of Crime during the Year ended 31st December, 1940, and Year ended 31st December, 1941.

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1940. 1941. 1»40. 1941. g g -9 i g g 3 g 8 S 1® s 8 I™ § s |®"g 1 I Hi Offences. § o oils Offences. 0 q -al « -gSg •S -g o _ o _ s si si fe-s i §S il s«i ,2-g fl-g a-sS •St; -Sl 'S3 § |g, g§, |ss |S, |a f*s £ I s a a fc Crimes and Justices op the Peace Crimes and Justices of the Peace Acts, etc. Acts, etc. —continued. Subversive statements, making, pub- 60 6 6 Offences against Rights of Property—ctd. lishing, &c. Theft of animals (specified) .. .. 24 27 19' Theft of animals, attempted .. .. .. 2 1 Misleading Justice. False pretences .. .. .. 714 600 554 Perjury and false oaths .. .. 2 2 2 False pretences, attempted .. .. 17 13 13False statements and declarations .. 71 37 37 Obtaining credit by fraud .. .. 150 132 123 False accounting by officials or clerks .. 8 26 26 Escapes and Rescues. False statements by officials or public .. 1 1 Breaking prison .. .. .. ■ • 7 7 officers Escaping from prison or lawful custody 33 23 22 Conspiracy to defraud .. .. 3 .. Assisting or aiding escape from prison .. .. 2 2 Fortune-telling or practising witchoraft 2 7 7 Robbery and aggravated robbery .. 28 18 11 Offences against Religion. Assault with intent to rob .. .. 2 2 1 Disturbing public worship .. .. 1 • • • - Demanding with intent to steal .. 1 Extortion by threats .. .. 1 2 2 Offences against Morality. Burglary .. .. .. .. 91 45 24 Unnatural offence .. .. .. 10 20 20 Burglary, attempted .. .. 9 Unnatural offence, attempted .. 3 .. .. House or shop breaking, &c. .. .. 1,546 1,152 916 Indecently assaulting a male .. .. 105 104 104 House or shop breaking, &c., attempted 87 68 49 Incest .. .. .. .. 13 31 31 Being found in dwellinghouse by night .. 5 10 8 Indecent acts .. .. .. 37 24 24 Being armed with intent to break or enter 1 Being disguised or in possession of house- 10 11 Offences against the Person, &c. breaking implements Murder . . .. .. . • 4 9 9 Receiving property dishonestly obtained 139 128 128 Murder, attempted .. .. .. 1 2 2 Forgery .. .. .. ._. 61 86 85 Manslaughter .. .. .. 6 7 7 Uttering forged documents or false certi- 22 17 17 Suicide, attempted .. .. .. 74 59 59 ficates Suicide, aiding and abetting .. • ■ 2 2 Sending false telegram .. .. 1 2 Concealment of birth .. .. 4 2 2 Coinage offences .. .. .. . • 2 2 Disabling or stupefying with intent to 5 5 Personation .. .. .. 2 commit a crime Arson .. .. .. . • 56 20 20 Wounding with intent to do grievous 3 11 Arson, attempted .. .. .. 10 6 5 bodily harm Wilfully placing obstruction on railways 12 9 5 Endangering safety of persons on rail- 2 .. .. Mischief .. .. .. 1,082 992 939 ways or tramways Mischief on railways and tramways .. 17 9 7 Administering poison or other noxious 2 .. .. Sending threatening letters .. .. 1 .. things with intent to injure or annoy Threatening acts with intent to intimidate 4 2 2 Assault causing actual bodily harm .. 20 15 13 Unlawfully altering brands .. .. .. 1 1 Causing actual bodily harm under circum- 2 2 2 stances that, if death had been caused, Police Offences Act. would be manslaughter Breach of the peace or behaviour with 698 655 653 Assault, indecent .. .. .. 175 131 113 intent Assault with intent to commit a crime .. 3 11 10 Cruelty to animals .. .. .. 47 57 57 Assault .. .. .. 781 759 739 Drunkenness .. .. .. 5,243 4,695 4,695 R a p e .. .. .. .. 7 5 4 Drunk while in charge of horses, &c., or 27 19 19 Rape, attempted .. .. .. 6 2 2 loaded firearms Carnally knowing girls under sixteen years 105 41 41 Drunk and disorderly .. .. 200 173 173 Carnally know girls under sixteen years, 15 6 6 Soliciting prostitution .. .. .. 1 1 attempts to Exposure of person and grossly indecent 193 177 143 Carnally knowing idiots or imbeoile women 12 2 acts Killing unborn child .. .. .. 1 1 Using profane, indecent, or obscene 554 500 499 Abortion, procuring .. .. .. 15 4 4 language Abortion, supplying means of procuring 12 2 Vagrancy (idle and disorderly persons, o02 z40 Z4i) Bigamy .. ., .. .. 4 14 13 rogues and vagabonds, and incorrigible Abduction!! .. .. 1 •• •• rogues) _ Stealing children under fourteen years .. 4 1 1 Assaulting, obstructing, or resisting con- 160 174 174 stables, &c. Offences against Rights of Property. Inciting violence, disorder, or lawlessness 9 2 2 Theft (undescribed) .. .. .. 7,560 7,104 5,664 Unlawfully using horses, motor-cars, &c. 1,287 1,160 790 Theft, attempted .. .. .. 57 54 40 Unlawfully on premises at night without 245 177 170 Theft'from the person .. .. 16 24 10 criminal intent Theft from the person, attempted .. 2 8 3 Sunday trading .. .. .. 81 52 52 Theft from dwellings .. .. 292 211 114 False allegation re commission of offences 7 3 •> Theft from dwellings, attempted .. 7 2 2 Falsely assuming designation of a con- .. 3 3 Theft by clerks or servants .. .. 30 53 1 53 stable

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APPENDIX A—continued. Return showing the Number of Offences reported, the Number of Offences for which Persons were apprehended or summoned, and Comparison of Crime during the Year ended 31st December, 1940, and Year ended 31st December, 1941 —continued.

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1940. 1941. I 1940. 1 1941. P ® -5 p i i .2 fl *"* *-« . . Sj M (H 9 2? S ■ S 8 s s | s « g | J s Offences. g § o|g Offences. § § §|| °. ' 3 . °. °.. I 1 -" 1?! n 'O i- tr" ® £fl !g It l-§S a ° a ° s-g § s 2 s s si: § pj p, J, o, is n g ft gi p, . g £ a fc . fc !zi Jzi. £ Gaming Act. Licensing Act—continued. Common gaming-house, keeping or 115 168 168 Pound on premises where liquor was 185 87 87 managing, &c. seized under a warrant Found in a common gaming-house .. 109 96 96 Offences against provisions in force in 43 21 21 Gaming with instruments .. . . 15 18 18 no-license districts Publishing advertisements relating to 7 4 4 Selling, supplying, or giving liquor to 27 4 4 betting on horse-races Maoris in Native licensing districts Lotteries, unlawfully establishing or con- 9 22 22 Offences against provisions of no-license 51 42 42 ducting, &o. in Native proclaimed areas Betting, unlawful .. .. .. 4 27 27 Supplying liquor to Natives in proclaimed 176 265 265 Following the occupation of bookmaker 87 106 106 districts Publishing betting charts . . . . 4 3 3 Permitting consumption of liquor in 1 11 11 Trespass on racecourse . . .. 44 56 56 restaurants after hours In possession of liquor in vicinity of 1,110 1,055 1,049 Post and Telegraph Act. dance-halls, &c. Putting explosive into post-office, &c. .. .. 1 1 Refusing to supply lodgings .. .. .. 1 1 Illegally opening or delaying postal 7 6 6 packets „ Destitute Persons Act. Stealing postal packets, mail-bags, &c. .. 34 65 56 FaiU Stealing money, &c„ from postal packets 35 12 11 « Unlawfully opening mail-bags .. 2 .. .. tenance mon P vs * Injuring post-office pillars or boxes .. 26 10 7 n »' , ,, , ... .. „„ „„ Damaging telegraph equipment .. 17 62 54 Offences by husbands while separation 13 32 32 Posting indecent post-cards or letters .. 4 3 3 ,re m , °y°f . „ , n, , N. . . .• til, i i (-)ffences prescribed m sections 52 to 58 .. 1 I False statement re posting postal packet . 1 1 of Destitute Persons Act Shipping and Seamen Act. Misconduct endangering his ship or lives 3 .. .. Motor-vehicles Act. of persons thereon Causing death or bodily injury through 53 49 46 Ship-desertion .. . . . . 117 103 90 reckless driving Absent without leave .. .. 17 21 21 Being intoxicated in charge of a motor- 634 471 471 Offences against discipline .. .. 5 21. 21 vehicle Stowing away .. .. .. 4 5 5 Reckless or negligent driving . . .. 926 681 : 677 Failing to stop and render assistance after .. 4 ' 3 Licensing Act. accident . Permitting drunkenness or violent con- 4 7 7 Other breaches of Act .. .. .10,523 8,038 7,998 duct Selling or supplying liquor to intoxicated 4 9 9 Miscellaneous. persons Absconding from industrial schools .. 4 19, 19 Permitting gaming, gambling, &c. .. 2 .. .. Bankruptcy offences .. .. 22 23 23 Selling or supplying liquor, or exposing 736 591 591 Children, wilfully ill-treating, neglecting, 11 for sale, or opening or keeping open • abandoning, or exposing premises at unauthorized times Deserting or absenting from His Majesty's 27 41 33 Supplying liquor to persons under 32 76 76 ships twenty-one years Drunk or behaving in a violent or 27 48 48 Selling or supplying liquor to prohibited 9 15 15 offensive manner, &c., on a railway, &c. persons Failing to comply with conditions of 175 185 163 Permitting prohibited persons to be on 2 1 1 release under Offenders Probation Act premises Habitual criminals or offenders, breach 6 14 12 Employing minors in bars .. .. 3 . . . . of conditions of probationary license Illegally supplying liquor to Natives .. 105 129 129 Indecent Publications Act, offences under 3 5 5 Obstructing Inspectors or refusing 16 6 Opium-smoking, &c. .. 47 55 55 entrance to Inspectors or constables Smuggling .. .. .. .. 1 Having or purchasing labels for bottling 2 .. .. Trespassing on railway and refusing to 26 91 83 contrary to Act leave, &c. Breaches of prohibition orders .. 440 428 428 Arms Act, breaches of .. .. 368 115 114 Found on licensed premises after closing- 2,165 1,688 1,687 Second-hand Dealers Act, breaches of .. 9 15 15 hours Refusing to quit licensed premises .. 12 14 14 Totals .. .. .. 45,009 38,559 35,896 Selling or exposing liquor for sale without 175 100 100 y~ ' a license Decrease .. .. .. 6,450

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APPENDIX B. Return showing the Proportion of Police to Population and Cost of Police per Inhabitant in each of the Undermentioned Places.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (492 copies), £1).

Authority: E. Y. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—194.2.

Price (id.

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pi,.. ! Number of Estimated rr0 p?, r ii!S n 0f Cost of Police I Police. Population. to Population. Per Inhabitant. s. d. New Zealand .. .. .. .. 1,599 1,634,338 1 to 1,022 8 3J Victoria .. .. .. .. 2,294 1,952,152 1 to 851 8 8 New South Wales .. .. .. 3,679 2,812,321 1 to 764 10 2J Queensland .. .. .. .. 1,541 1,036,830 1 to 672 13 2 South Australia .. .. .. 875 605,689 1 to 692 12 1J Western Australia .. .. .. 595 467,082 1 to 785 11 7 Tasmania .. .. ... 295 241,171 1 to 817 11 9J