12% Increase In Crime

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 3

12% Increase In Crime

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 14. Crimes and offences increased by about 12 per cent in the year ended December 31, says the annual report of the Police Department, tabled in Parliament today. The most significant increases were in offences against the person and property and in liquor and traffic offences. The total climbed to 132,311, an increase of 13.889 over the previous year. However, the 3739 convictions for drunkenness was the lowest number for 15 years. The incidence was 1.39 per 1000 of population, compared with an incidence of 1.54 in 1964. There were 17. cases of

murder, compared with 13 the previous year and 10 in 1963. The figure for attempted murder rose from seven to 10, and there was an increase of 1219 reported offences against the person. In 1964 the increase was 194. POLICE STRENGTH

The effective strength of the police at the end of the 1964-65 financial year was 2749 men and women. The Criminal Investigation Branch had 324 members and the women’s division 61. The force also had 114 police cadets, 11 matrons, one district constable and 164 public servants, said the report. Numbers In the ranks were: constables 2126, temporary sergeants 11, sergeants 393, temporary senior-sergeants 7, senior sergeants 121, inspectors 39, chief inspectors 18, superintendents 22, chief superintendents nine, assistant commissioners two, and one commissioner.

Trained police dogs were called out 385 times to assist in apprehending offenders and to search for escapees and missing people. The figure includes false alarms. The dogs had 111 successes and 20 partial successes. For the first time in recent years all the allocation for capital expenditure on police buildings was used. Capital expenditure was £869,861, from an appropriation of £844,500. Major buildings were under construction at the beginning of • the year at Whangarei, Auckland, Otahuhu. Porirua, and Blenheim, together with smaller stations at Putaruru, Mangakino, Ohakune, Bulls, and Reefton. URGENT PROPOSALS The report says the two most urgent proposals at present are the new police training ichool at Trentham and

the new district headquarters and central police station for Christchurch. Preliminary planning has begun on the school. Construction Is considered urgent as the present accommodation is inadequate for the increased intakes necessary to bring the strength of the police to a satisfactory level. CIVIL DEFENCE Recruiting for the civil defence police is reasonably satisfactory, says the report There were 3100 members, compared with a desired strength of 3460. Of these 125 are women. There was a noticeable increase in search and rescue incidents during the year, especially in the number of small boat mishaps on lakes and rivers and around the coast. Squads of police in the main centres are being selected for search and rescue work.