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1909. 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 or Police to the Hon. the Minister of Justice. j-ir, Police Department, Commissioner's Office, 4th June, 1909, I have the honour to submit for your information the annual report on the Police Force of the Dominon (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 771 of all ranks, being an increase of 37 during the year. The total is made up as follows :— Inspectors .. .. .. .. • • • • •• • • 9 Sub-inspectors .. .. .. • • • • • • •■ 7 Station sergeants .. .. .. • • • • • • ■ • 4 Sergeant-major .. .. .. .. • • • • • • 1 Sergeants .. .. .. ■ • • • • • • • .. 82 Constables .. .. .. .. •• •• •• ..619 Chief detectives .. .. .. •. • • • • • • 5 Detectives .. .. .. • • • • • • • • .. 30 Acting-detectives .. .. •. ■ • • • • • .. 14 In addition to the above there were — Police surgeons .. .. .. • • • • • • • • 4 Matrons . . .. .. • • • • • • • • • • District constables .. .. .. .. • • • • .. 20 Native constables .. .. . • • • ■ • • • .. 10 Troop horses .. .. .. • • • • • • • • .. 43 Stations. New stations have been formed at Eastbourne, Horopito, Karori, Kerepehi, Ongaonga, Eanfurly. St. Kilda, Tairua, Waikari, and Wanganui East. The district constable at Karamea has been replaced by a regular member of the Force, and the station at Whangamomona has been closed. Casualties. The following are the casualties for the year ended the 31st March last: Retired under Police Provident Fund Act, 15 ; died, 3 ; resigned voluntarily, 27 ; dismissed, 6 ; called upon to resign, 4 ; transferred to other Departments, 4 : total, 59. This is 1 less than in the preceding year. Criminal Statistics. The crimina' 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 306 on the figures of 1907. The ncrease in the strength of the Police Force no doubt accounts to a degree for the increase in the number of arrests shown. The proportion of offences to the population was 233 per cent, as against 2-37 the previous year.

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