THE POLICE FORCE ANNUAL REPORT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 28, 1 August 1912, Page 8

THE POLICE FORCE ANNUAL REPORT

PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT. NEW COMMISSIONER'S REVIEW. The first report of the new Police ' Commissioner (Mr. Cullen, formerly inspector at Auckland), was presented to Parliament to-day. At ifche end of 1912 the Force consisted of 835 men of ail ranks, as against 788 th« previous year. Daring the year thirteen members of th« Force retired on superannuation, three as medically unfit, two died, twenty-seven retired voluntarily, nine were called npon to resign, one *as discharged, and one was dismissed — four lass than the " casualties" in the previous year. The total of offences reported to the police daring the year ended 31st December, as compared with the previous twelve months, decreased by 107. Auckland 1 has the unenviable reputation of heading the list for offences reported and arrests made. The detailed figures are as follow, the number of arrests to offences reported in each district being given in parentheses: — Auckland, 6622 (5978); Thames, 842 (817); Napier, 1874 (1833); Wanganai, 2663 (2568); Wellington, 5513 (5234); Greymouth, 877 ■ (816) ; Christchurch, 3971 (3774); Dunedin, 1940 (1807); Invercargill, 697 (675). The number of crimes listed as "serious" shows a falling off. In. 1910 738 cases were reported and 616 arrests made, and in 1911, 580 cases were reported and 474 arrests made. The record in regard to indecent and sexual offences reflects the opinions- which have been expressed in the courte of the country. The detailed figures for 1910 and 1911 show an increase of these cases from 491 to 526. DRUNKENNESS. The prosecutions for drunkenness decreased by 19 compared with the previous year. Wellington has the unenviable record of topping the list wfyh 2737 convicted males and 306 females. Auckland comes next with 2587 and 170 respectively, Christchurch 1512 and 150, Wanganui 1380 and 52, Napier 1002 and 33, and Dunedin gets down to 718 and 60 respectively. Invercargill, of No-licence lams, had' 283 convicted males and 14 females. Wellington's total included 328 foreign-going men or members of crews of vessels in port, and Auckland 213 similarly described. Altogether no less than 10,898 males and 820 females were charged with drunkenness in the courts last year. In Wellington and suburbs 48 persons were convicted of drunkenness on Sundays against 34 in Auckland and suburbs, 21 in Christchurch. and suburbs, and only four in Dunedin and suburbs. During the year 33 Jhotelkeepers in the Greymoutn district were convicted of breacnee, 26 in Christchurch, 56 in Auckland, 15 in Wanganui, 12 in Wellington, 9 in Dunedin, and 9 in the Inyercargijl district. The fines imposed in all' districts amounted to £2670, and the direct cost of detecting sly grogselling £662 11s. Last year there were 152 prosecutions, resulting in 120 convictions, under the gaming laws, against 205 and 169 respectively in 1910. FINGER PRINTS. The finger print system resulted in the conviction of 178 previous offenders during the year. The Department now has in. its possession the complete criminal history of 2111 " finger-printed " offenders. CANDIDATES FOR THE FORCE One hundred and three men were taken on during the year, the nationalities, religions, and occupations being as follow : — Nationalities :*: * Australia 8, England 20, Ireland 17, New Zealand 41, Scotland 17. Religions : Baptist 1, Brethren 1, Church of England .";0, Methodist 3, Presbyterians 28, Roman Catholics 29, Wesleyans 5. WELLINGTON DISTRICT. In his report, Inspector Ellison says that during the year six constables resigned, five were called upon to resign, and one retired on superannuation. In regard to other matters, the Inspector in the course of his report says : — "The conduct of the Force has ' been good. Only eleven fines were recorded for breaches of discipline during the year, and five constables were called upon to resign. I again beg to draw attention to the necessity for bettor cell accommodation at Lambton-quay Station. A few years ago I drew attention to the. continually increasing clerical work, a great deal of it being in connection with duties of other departments, which, is thrust upon police inspectors, thereby preventing them from giving attention to far more important police duties and outside supervision. Immense files of correspondence arise in connection with the collection of debts duo to the Education Department for maintenance of children in industrial schools. There is also a great deal of correspondence attended to for the Railway Department in hunting for goods, luggage, and parcels sent astray on both freight and passenger trains. For the Old Age Pensions Department there is a great deal of enquiry and writing to be done. I estimate the work done for the Education Department throughout the district is equal to the services of two men, and when the time occupied by clerical work and outside enquiries in connection with the Bame is taken into account, I consider the value of the services is from £300 to £400 annually. The railway enquiries are probably worth nearly £200 when all the time and work is taken into account. Each of these classes of enquiries has to pass through the Inspector s hands probably three or four times — never less than twico — so that when the same is added to the ordinary police correspondence, accounts, and enquiries, the time of an inspector is usually occupied seven to eight hours daily on purely clerical work. The increase of clerical work during the past ten years has been marvellous."