POLICE AND PUBLIC Strength Figures Do Not Show True Picture

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31169, 20 September 1966, Page 19

POLICE AND PUBLIC Strength Figures Do Not Show True Picture

(By Our Police Reporter) v The Christchurch police district extends from the Clarence river to the Rangitata. At the Christchurch Central Police Station and the district headquarters the number of police is 214. There are 35 district stations and the total strength in May was 323.

This year’s census showed that 250,000 persons live within a radius of eight miles of the centre of Christchurch. It is safe to assume that no more than 300,000 live in the Christchurch police district. The authorised strength of the police in New Zealand is one policeman to every 950 of population. The Christchurch police, numbering 323, have seven men more than the authorised national proportion.

The district stations range from Kaikoura (2 policemen) to Ashburton (13), and from Methven (1) to Akaroa (1). There are 21 one-man stations. Other stations with more than one policeman are: Addington (9), Hornby (6), Kaiapoi (2), Lyttelton (15), New Brighton (6), Papanui (11), Rangiora (4), St. Albans (4>, Sydenham (7) andWoolston (6).

The authorised proportion of one policeman to every 950 citizens was fixed before the police became entitled to a five-day week. The proportion is, nevertheless, amongst the lowest in the world. In Britain, the proportion in 650-750. and in one instance, as high as one to 287. In Japan, the proportion is one to 570. In all these forces, police control traffic. Every week between 13 and 15 of the 150 uniform constables in Christchurch have to start their annual leave of 28 days. The uniform branch’s strength of 169 is reduced, for all normal purposes, by a minimum of 13 on annual leave and by 22 on administrative work.

The police in Christchurch are, in fact, 28 below the strength needed for the beat, patrol and inquiry work. 55 Men Required

Senior officers in the uniform branch and C. 1.8. say that 40 more constables and 15 more detectives are needed in the district. The chief detective. when questioned on their deficiencies, said he was certain that with 15 more detectives the Christchurch C. 1.8. could get on top of the current wave of burglaries and thefts. The superintendent in charge of the uniform branch was just as confident that the addition of 40 more constables would enable the district to be policed efficiently. Last year’s report by the Police Department showed that the number of crimes increased by 12 per cent over the previous year and included substantial increases in both crimes against the person and against the property.

Police reports in recent years have shown that well over half the crimes against the person and against property have been solved. The strength of the police in New Zealand, as in all other countries, is calculated on an actuarial basis—the number of police is balanced against the community’s desire to have lawbreakers brought to book. When the number of unsolved crimes (particularly major crimes such as murder) rises steeply the public reaction is swift.

However, the record of the New Zealand Police in solving major crimes is surprisingly good. Ten murders. 15 attempted murders, and 10 cases of manslaughter in 1963, were all "cleared” by the police—the great majority by prosecu-

tion. In 1964, the police were again 100 per cent successful in solving 13 murders, 7 attempted murders and 24 cases of manslaughter. Last year, 17 murders, 10 attempted murders and 15 i cases of manslaughter were ! cleared. Two cases of manslaughter were unresolved at the end of that year. The Ward bomb murder, in Dunedin, and death of Miss Woolley, in Christchurch, are the only unsolved murder cases in New Zealand from 1960 to 1965. The figures quoted for the years 19631965 show a steady increase in the number of murders committed each year. Opinions of senior police officers in Christchurch and the figures in the annual report support the argument that the authorised strength of the police should be raised if crime is to be kept below the level acceptable to the community today.

It is also, unfortunately, plain that the police are 82 members short of the authorised strength for the Dominion. The population of New Zealand is increasing at a rate of about 2.3 to 2.5 per cent each year. One of the reasons why crime is increasing at a much greater rate than the population is undoubtedly the failure to increase the number of police in line with the growth of the population. Lagging Behind The police find it more and more difficult to keep up with the criminals. If the police become understaffed and under-eqiupped to a point at which organised criminals get on top—and that is not the situation in New Zealand disturbing symptoms can appear in a police force. The “planting” of evidence on arrested persons and the whipping of suspects to obtain confessions are incidents reported about police forces in Britain. These incidents may be the outcome of the desperation felt by policemen when they find they are unable to combat organised crime. Policemen under the great pressure of an unequal struggle may resort to improper actions.