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1932. 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 of Police Department. Police Department, Wellington, 15th August, 1932. 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 permanent members of the Force of all ranks was 1,134, being a decrease of twenty-six during the year. The total is made up as follows : — Superintendents .. .. .. .. .. 4 Inspectors .. .. .. .. .. 15 Sub-Inspectors .. .. .. .. .. 6 Senior Sergeants .. .. .. .. 27 Sergeants .. .. .. .. .. 96 Constables .. .. .. .. .. ..921 Senior Detectives .. .. .. .. .. 4 Detective-sergeants .. .. .. .. 17 Detectives .. .. .. .. .. 44 In addition to the above there were— Police surgeons .. .. .. .. 12 Matrons .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 District constables .. .. .. .. .. 4 Native constables .. .. .. .. .. 2 There were also twenty-three temporary constables-appointed under section 2 of the Police Force Amendment Act, 1919 : nine of these were appointed during the war period, and are over age or otherwise unsuitable for permanent appointment; the other fourteen were appointed on probation with a view to filling vacancies in the permanent staff if found suitable. Stations. New stations were established during the year at Arapuni and Makaraka, and the stations at Kopua Railway Camp, Whataupoko, Tiroroa, Parnassus, and Wharanui were closed. 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, 3 ; resigned voluntarily, 6 ; called upon to resign, 3 ; dismissed, 2 : total, 25. This is 2 more than in the preceding year. 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 534 on the figures of 1930. The proportion of offences to the population was 2-4 per cent., as against 2-46 the previous year. There were increases during the year under the following headings, viz. : — Theft (petty) .. .. .. 559 False pretences .. .. 49 Theft by clerks, &c. .. .. .. 32 Assaulting or resisting police .. .. 76 Theft of postal packets .. .. 40 Selling liquor after hours .. .. 192 Burglary, housebreaking, &c. .. .. 345 Breaches of Arms Act .. .. .. 131 Forgery and uttering .. .. .. 33 Breaches of Motor-vehicles Act .. .. 562

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