THE POLICE FORCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 6 September 1928, Page 5

THE POLICE FORCE.

COMMISSIONER’S REPORT.

MODERN REQUIREMENTS

OFFENOES FOR, THE YEAR

(By Telegraph—Special to The Star.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 5. Owing to the growth of the population and the expansion of settlement a further increase in the po'lioe force is suggested by the Commissioner of Polioa in his annual report. Another development due to' modern conditions is that it is essential, says the commissioner, for members of the police force to have at their command, for immediate use in connection with the detection and prevention of crime, high class and high powered motor cycles. The time is approaching when a squad of motor cyclists would be required at each of the principal centres qf poiplation. More, motor cars were also needed to expedite the work of the commissioned officers, and for the emergency work of detectives. The police force of the Dominion numbers 1105, an increase - of 21 during the year. Detailing criminal statistics for 1927, the commissioner shows that there was an increase' of 529, hut included in these figures were breaches of the Motor Vehicles Act, which exceeded ‘the previous .year by 982. Gaming offences increased by 252, burglai’iy and housebreaking by 25. There was a. decrease in drunkenness which, per 10,000 of the population was in New Zealand 53.0, as compared with- 99.5 in the Australian commonwealth. Prosecutions of bookmakers totalled 226, with 200 convictions, and the fines aggregated £4829.