CRIME IN GISBORNE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13269, 3 January 1914, Page 6

CRIME IN GISBORNE.

GENERAL DECREASE LAST YEAR. The annual return prepared by Senior Sergeant Hutton, showing the record of crime m Gisborne during 1913, discloses a satisfactory position. Whilst the figures show an increase m some of. tlje minor offences, there lias been & general , decrease m the_ number of 'criminal cases of a more serious nature. "I ascribe the absence . of crime very largely to the number of arrests for vagrancy," remarked the sergeant to a Herald reporter today, as he explained how the career of the undesirable characters were "nipped m the bud." The returns Bhow that there has been less burglaries and thefts than during the previous five years. The numbers for drunkenness i show a decrease of 51. The total number of persons arrested by the police during last year was 618, as against 657 for 1912. ' In addition to these 252 persons, were summoned, bringing the .total number of cases dealt with up to 870. Of the arrests, 29 persons were arrested on warrant and remanded to other places. The summons cases included 80 under the Defence Act, of which about half-a-dozen were dismissed. Last year there were 395 cases of drunkenness (283 males and 12 females) as against 446 for 1912. The latter total showed an increase of 66 over the figures for 1911. In common assaults there were 14 cases last year (all dealt with), and m the previous year there were 12. Assaults causing bodily harm, 2 cases (acquitted); breaches of the peace/ 7 (1912, 16) ; burglary 2, 1 undiscovered ' (8) : indecent assaults, nil (2) ; abusive and threatening behavior ; 1 (2) ;" absconding from bail, nil (I): abduction. 1. and dismissed; cruelty to animals 1 (1\ : desertion from vessels; 1 (4) ; discharging firearms, 1 (2) : disobeying order of court • and ' summons, ll (6) ; disorderly and riotous conduct, 7 (10) ; failing to comply with terms of probationers Act 2 (nil) : failiner to support wives and near relatives, 15 (26) ; false declaration, nil (2) : false pretences, 13 m : forsrerv and utterinsr, 3 and cony mitted for trial, (5) ; gamine offences 2 IZ) : illegally on premises 1 (s^ ;. indecent exposure 7 (2) : mischief- and malicious injury to property 13 (5),; neglect of children, nil (7); obscene language, 15 (10) : ohHriictinc and resisting police, t (8^- obstrucing railway official^ nil '1): refusing to quite licensed premises. 1. a female, (1): rescuing cattle from. b^iiY? impounded. 2 (3} : sly-grog selling!* nil ((1..') '..' stone throwing, 3, (1) ; stowaways, 6 HI; attempts suicide. ,l (2) ; sureties of the peace.! 2 (2^ ; theft 28, of whioh 9b summonses arid arrests were made (39) ; theft by servants, . nil (2) : tVft from dwellings, 1 (nil) : ' theft . of horses or cattle. 1 and acquitted, (2) J travelling by rail without paying fare, 1 (9.); vagrancy, 20,(13). _ The summons cases include 55 f6r breaches of prohibition, orders, 22 for driving without lights, and 38 'for ridnur bicycles on footpaths. TheTe were also 10 lunacy cases, not included m the above returns. , • ' Tlip returns anplv to Gisborne only and do rnt include cases from Patutahi. Te Karaka, Matawai. Motu or the Coast district which supply separate returns. A l«uy?o bulk of the work from these «tations. however, pass through the (3isborne station. -'\ "■