POLICE REPORT

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21256, 30 August 1934, Page 10

POLICE REPORT

DETECTION OF CRIME SUCCESS WITH FINGER PRINT SYSTEM fFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 29. Statistics published in the annual report of the Police Department, which was tabled in the House of Representatives to-day, show that offences reported to the police during 1933 totalled 33,302, a decrease of 2066 on the figures for the previous year. The proportion of offences to population was 2.15 per cent., as against 2.3 per cent, in 1932. Commissioner of Police Wohlmann states in his report that the continued decrease in the crimes of burglary and housebreaking, etc., and a decrease in petty thefts was gratifying. . The increase in convictions for breaches of the Gaming Act last year was 63, and the previous year 38, indicating continued police activity. The law dealing with bookmaking required strengthening. At headquarters finger impressions of 2656 persons were received, classified, searched, indexed, and filed during the year. In 21 cases of breaking and entering finger prints left by offenders when committing crimes were identified and the offenders prosecuted. In five of these cases enlarged photographs were prepared and the necessary evidence tendered, resulting in three convictions in the Supreme Court and two admissions of guilt in the lower court. Sixteen other offenders pleaded guilty in the lower court. It is explained in the report that the finger print system in New Zealand has to date made possible the identification of no fewer than 6109 persons. Mr Wohlmann mentions that the high percentage of detected offences referred to in last year's report has been maintained. A gratifying reduction in social unrest, commented on last year, continued. Conditions happily were becoming more normal.