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1905. NEW ZEALAND.

THE POLICE FORCE OF THE COLONY (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 op Justice. Sir,— Police Department, Commissioner's Office, 20th June, 1905. I have the honour to submit for your information the annual report on the Police Force of the colony (together with the criminal statistics) for the year ended 31st March last. Strength of Force. On the 31st March last the strength of the Force was 655 of all ranks, being an increase of 29 during the year. The total is made up as follows : Inspectors, 8 ; Sub-Inspectors, 4 ; sergeant-major, 1 ; sergeants, 64 ; constables, 543 ; probationers, 10; detectives, 25. In addition to above, there were 4 police surgeons, 4 matrons, 22 district constables, 9 Native constables, and 62 horses. Stations. New stations have been formed at Taumarunui, Waikino, and Te Karaka ; and those at Waitekauri and Ormond have been closed. Casualties. The casualties (Appendix C) have been : Retired under the Police Provident Fund Act, 7 ; resigned, 14 ; died, 2 ; dismissal, 1 ; total 24. This is 1 less than in the preceding year. Criminal Statistics. The criminal statistics (Appendix A) deal with all offences reported to the police during the year ended the 31st December last, and show an aggregate net increase of 330 on the figures of 1903, but a slight decrease on a population basis, as in 1903 the proportion of offences to the population was 2-36 per cent., whereas in 1904 it was 2-33 per cent. The principal increases were —drunkenness, 800 ; failing to support parents, 33 ; obstructing and resisting police, 92 ; opium-smoking, or being in possession of opium, 80 ; receiving stolen property, 22 ; theft from dwellings, 82 ; theft from the person, 27 ; vagrancy, 105. The principal decreases were—deserting families, 52 ; disobeying summonses, &c, 106 ; disorderly and riotous conduct, 96 ; false,declarations, 30 ; false pretences, 88 ; illegally taking fish, 43 ; gaming offences, 113 ; malicious injury to property, 48 ; obstructing thoroughfares, 78 ; refusing to quit, 31 ; sly-grog selling, 42 ; stowaways, 39; theft by servants, 60. The increase (331) on the total number of all offences reported is the smallest on record since 1891, the average yearly increase during the five years ending the 31st December, 1903, being 976. Serious crimes increased slightly during the past year, but only to the extent of 10 in excess of the average yearly record for the previous five years. The percentage of arrests for serious crimes during the year exceeds the yearly average for the last five years by 386 per cent., and the percentage of arrests or summonses resulting from all offences reported was 95 - 23, the yearly average for the preceding five years being 93-83 per cent. I—H. 16.