THE CITY POLICE FORCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6704, 30 December 1908, Page 5

THE CITY POLICE FORCE

IS XT ADEQUATE? COMMISSIONER DINNIE'S VIEWS. Police Commissioner Dinnie woe quc.-v----tiuned by a. "Timee” reporter yesterday in regard to the adequacy of the force in Wellington to copo with crime. “Since May last," remarked Air Dinnie, “f have increased the force in AVeltingion by thirteen men, constables and detectives. Of course, station* have been opened in tho (suburbs, and these have had to be mipplicyl with The strength of the police force in W ellington to-day is one man to every 700 of population. That is a very lair percentage, compared to how larger centres 1 eleewhere are policed, and I would not ; rare to recommend any more. W hen there is any special event on, we arrange for special patrols at night, and take the necessary precautions according to the requirements of the occasion. “In regard to the occurrence last week at Courtenay place, it is always possible for such events to occur at late hours without any policeman being near by. I certainly think Wellington is adequately policed, and is bettor off in this respect than it has ever been before. Of course, a* you know, numbers of young constables come to tae depot here to get their training, and it is some time before they become proficient in their duties. “Tim Wellington, detective force is sufficiently strong. No recommendation for ritrengthoning the force has been, refUM?d. The whole of the men that Inspector Ellison has asked for have been granted. There arc in all large cities occasional waves of crime. Hero it is mostly the floating population that causes the trouble. People come from “the other side" who are practically unknown for a time to the police hero. We have had housebreaking epidemics in the same way as wo have had a run of acsanlt cases, but a great maiiy of them arc detected. I think you will find that very few of the crimes committed here remain undiscovered. “With respect to the unidentified man, hi* photograph will bo sent to all the . police stations throughout the Dominion and Australia, with full description, as well as circulating it by means of tho ‘Police Gazette/ which every constable now receives. “A* to crime generally, of course, we cannot really expect to be without it hero, but if you take the returns from other countries, you will find that we compare very favourably with them, i consider we arc wonderfully free from crime all the year round, especially crime of a serious character. Of course, wo 'will have to take special steps to prevent this sort of thing, and special steps are being taken as regards tho recent incident. The detectives are closely following up all tho clues, and It is "only a question of getting the right one/’ LOCATION OF THE FORCE. The distribution of the police force in Wellington on March 31st last stood thus:— Constables, Wellington 35 Brooklyn ... 1 Clyde quay ... 1 Island Bay ... 1 Kilbirnie 1 Manners street 1 Mount Cook ... 16 .Thorndon 1. Tinnkori road 1 ■Wellington South 3 In addition there are eight sergeants at Wellington and five at Mount Cook. THE FOUR CITIES. The position on March 31st, 1908, in tho four principal cities was:— * Detectives (including City. Constables, acting). Auckland ... ... 37 10 ♦Wellington ... ... 35 30 Christchurch ... 39 9 Dunedin 30 6 •Does not include suburbs (26 constables and 5 sergeants).