AUCKLAND POLICE FORCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 236, 2 October 1920, Page 11

AUCKLAND POLICE FORCE.

MORE MEN* WASTED. (By Telegraph. —Parliainentnrj- Reporter.) "WELLINGTON', Friday. An increase in the police force in the Auckland district ie advocated by Superintendent Wright- '.n his annual reoort. He points out that the only increase during the rear has been the inspector at'Whangarei, the sergeant for night duty at Auckland, and the detective at Auckland. Since March, Iffl6, the oniy increase to the authorised strength has been the inspector, two sergeants, and one detective. This had been due to the fact that during the war, recruiting was 60 restr'cted that it was impossible to fill the strength, let nlmm increase it. The strength shoii" 1 >>v be increased as early as possi *he addition of 10 constables an! .lives for the city, one constable ,v .i'.unt Eden, one constable for Dargaviile, one constable for Onehunga, and one detective and three constable, for "Whangarei, mak : ng a of one sergeant, three detectives, and twenty constables. This addition will only satisfy the present pressing need. TJndeT prevailing conditions every member of the force, especiall}' iv the city, has to work -strenuously, and it is very difficult to arrange for necessary leave to be granted. The increase recommended, for the city is required to cope with the growing population and the work devolving on the police. The same reason applies to Dargaville and Onehunga. The increase at Whangarei is necessitated by the establishing of the Whangarei police district under an inspector. A detective is required there to attend to cases arising in the north, as urder present conditions considerable delay ie occasioned by sending one from Auckland, and his efforts are handicapped accordingly. One of the constables for Whangarei is required as district clerk, the other two to enable night duty to be performed there and have a constable on reserve for etation duty, reliev'ng, etc. I think it is essential that night duty should be regularly performed in a place like "Wliangarei. No new stat'-ons have been formed during the year, und the only one closed was Panmure. New quarters have been purchased for a police station at Freeman's Bay. and are now occupied. The offences return for 1010 shows that 5532 offences were reported during that year, as compares', w'th +534 for the. previous twelve months, a net increase of 00S. Xotieoable increases are observed under headings of assaults (5.5), theft (160), housebreaking (21), drunkenness (451), obscene language (75), vagrancy (4?>), gaming ('.>)), failing to maintain (TO), and breaches of prohibition orders (1 ""28). Decreases are shown under the following headings: Theft from dwellings (-20), false pretences (21). burglary (13). receiving stolen property (26), mischief (64), found in gaining houses (~'2). The increases are only what might be expected, eor.3 : <lerin£ the increase of population during the year, and do not indicate any abnormal growth of crime in the district, which has with few exceptions been comparatively free from crime of a serious nature. There were 18 prosecutions for sly grogging, resulting in 16 convictions during the year, a decrease of seven cases compared with the previous year. Tn conclusion, the superintendent favourably commented on the conduct of the force and refers to the impetus given to recruiting by the increased remunerate on. and the difficulty married men experience in obtaining accommodation. j