CRIME OF THE YEAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21379, 31 December 1932, Page 11

CRIME OF THE YEAR

BUSY TIME FOR POLICE EFFICIENCY OF THE FORCE serious; cases checked A particularly onerous year is just closing for the police force of the Auckland district. Periods of industrial and economic depression arc generally accompanied by something in the nature of crime waves, and it speaks volumes for the efficiency and keenness of the Auckland police that, apart from certain isolated cases, serious crime has not shown any marked increase during the year. This result has been achieved by a force considered by many to be too small for the requirements of the district. "We have been well satisfied with the work of members of the force in the Auckland district during the year," said Inspector J. W_. Hollis yesterday. "It has been an exceptionally busy year and the rioting in the city in April added considerably to the work of the force. However, apart from the rioting, the extent of serious crime has not been more than usual, although one type of case which was regarded as being of grave significance was the hold-up and daylight robbery in Victoria Street. "Breaking and entering has been fairly prevalent, but not more so than, in previous years. In a district as widely scattered as Auckland, and in times such as we are experiencing at present, there must always be a certain number of minor cases of this type. Juvenile crime has not decreased during the year, but there have been no really serious cases under this category." American "Gangster" Crime

The case regarded by the police as the most serious individual crime of the year was that in which two men were found guilty of robbery with violence. It was described as an American "gangster" crime, the two men having waylaid the accountant of a city firm, assaulted him and robbed him of £106 ; which he was carrying from the bank for payment of wages. The crime was committed in broad daylight and the two men made a sensational escape in a small motor-car. They were chased by a constable, but managed to elude him and later the car was found abandoned in the Heme Bay district. However, a period of intensive inquiry by detectives resulted in the arrest of the two men. One was sentenced by Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court, to three years' imprisonment and a flogging of 12 strokes, and the other to two years' imprisonment and a flogging of 12 strokes. The floggings were duly carried out and it was stated at the time that they were the first carried out in Mount Eden Prison by order .of the Supreme Court for six years. The Riot Cases The cases which aroused most interest during the year were those of the men charged with taking part in the Queen Street riots. A total of 15 men appeared in the Supreme Court on these charges and 13 of them were sentenced to terms of imprisonment. Attempts were made later in the j'ear to have these sentences reviewed by the Minister of Justice, but they met with a refusal. During the hearing of the cases, Mr. Justice Herdman expressed high praise of the conduct of the police during a period of great difficulty. There were no "spectacular" murder mysteries during the year to lift police work into the realms of detective fiction. On more than one occasion during the year attention was directed in the Supreme Court to the prevalence of sexual offences. In the May sessions, seven out of a total of 15 charges dealt with this type of caso. Another type of offence, the prevalence of which drew adverse comment during the year, was in the negligent driving of moto 4 r vehicles so as to cause , death. Thefts by Solicitors

A serious view was also taken of cases in which solicitors appeared in the Supreme Court, charged with the theft of money from clients. Heavy sentences were imposed in two cases, Mr. Justice Herdman, in dealing with the more serious of the two, administering a crushing rebuke on a man who, ho said, had brought disgrace and distrust on an ancient and honorable profession. Juvenile crime is still causing serious concern in some quarters, and many who are in close touch with criminal work in Auckland hold that there is a danger of its continued growth. They state that the Children's Courts, as they are at present constituted, dp not have a deterrent effect on a fairly large type of young criminals They are strongly of the opinion that there have been many cases of misplaced leniency which may prove disastrous in future years.