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1915. 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 op Police to the Hon. the Minister op Justice. Police Department, Wellington, 30th June, 1915. I have the honour to present the annual report on the Police Force for the year ended the 31st March last. Strength of Force. On the 31st March last the strength of the Force was 911 of all ranks, being an increase of 41 during the year. The total is made up as follows : — Superintendents .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Inspectors . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 Sub-Inspectors .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 Senior sergeants .. .. .. .. .. 21 Sergeants .. .. .. .. .. .. 79 Constables .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 748 Chief detectives . . .. .. .. .. .. 4 Detective-sergeants .. .. .. .. .. 14 Detectives .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Acting-detectives .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 In addition to the above there were— Police surgeons .. .*. .. .. .. .. 4 Matrons . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 District constables .. .. .. .. .. 14 Native constables .. .. ... .. .. .. 7 Stations. New stations have been established at Mount Eden South, Matiere, Nuhaka, and Waimataitai. The district constable at Half-moon Bay (Stewart Island) has been replaced by a regular member of the Force. Casualties. The following are the casualties for the year ended 31st March last: Retired on pension under the Public Service Superannuation Act, 9 ; retired as medically unfit, 2 ; died, 1 ; resigned voluntarily, 19 ; called upon to resign, 5 ; dismissed, 7 : total, 43. This is 13 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 2,148 on the figures of 1913. The proportion of offences to the population was 2-4 per cent., as against 2-24 the previous year. The principal increases during the year appear under the following headings, viz.:— . Assault (common) . . .. .. 75 Obscene language .. .. .. 104 Burglary, &c. .. ... .. 78 Obstructing and resisting police .. 53 Disobeying orders of Court and summonses 79 Opium-smoking .. .. ..40 Disorderly conduct .. ... .. 37 Sly-grog selling .. .. 37 Drunkenness .. .. .. 1,483 Theft by servants .. .. ..32 False pretences .. .. .. 29 Theft from dwellings .. '.. 82 Forgery and uttering. . . . .. 42 Trespass .. .. .. 55 Gaming offences .. .. .. 59 Vagrancy offences .. .. .. 112

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