CRIME AND THE POLICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6704, 30 December 1908, Page 6

CRIME AND THE POLICE

FACTS AMD A PROTEST. (To the Editor "M.Z. Times.”) Sir,—There is no doubt that the average citizen of Wellington, whosebusiness or pleasure takes him abroad at night, is at the present moment in a state of dread lest ho should bo molested by one or more of the ruffians who are still at largo in the city. For a long period there has been much unrest in tlio city and suburbs. It was shown in the first place that the parks of the city, which are supposedly set aside for tho pleasure of the people who own them, are frequently infested with persons of tho worst type, that innocent people are likely to bo and have been molested, that no decent woman without a capable escort would dare to traverse these parks after nightfall and that no man who had anything to lose would chance a journey in the darkest spots without arms. There is in Wellington a very large proportion of idle individuals. The police know of these persons and perhaps cope with them according to the intelligence or strength of the force. It is conceivable that tho outrages which have been perpetrated by criminals who are ’’known to the police” might bo committed even though the police force wa-s doubled in numbers or even though the citizens in the absence of any lead on the part of tho Department of Justice policed die ■■ify th»msolvos. It is possible that the murder of tho unknown person in Courtenay place the other night might have happened if there had been three policemen instead of one on that particular boat, but there is still tho feeling that tlio administration of the police department may bo at fanlt despite any official denial that such is tho case. In the first place the constables of Wellington .may or may not keep travelling. It is possible that the ‘‘rounds” by non-commissioned officers of tho force may take place at stated tinios and that constables who sleep in doorways may wake up in time to report. The observant man who is abroad at night has opportunities for seeing tho immense distances the police do not travel and the large number of constables who do not appear between widely severed parts cf the city and suburbs.

Tlie sergeants, of course, have a great scopo of country to cover, and there are not many sergeants. There is no mounted patrol, although this may not bo deemed necessary in a city of tho smallness of Wellington. It is, of course, absolutely impossible fdr one constable to cover much ground, and it is conceded that tho criminal is clover enough to wait until the constable lias passed before ho commits a crime, knowing that the constable will not bo in his direction again for a very long time. Any question as to tho efficiency or sufficiency of the police force of Wellington put to the authorities will bring an answer that the average of crime is not very high, that the police are efficient and sufficient, and- that there’ is no need for any worry. And while no one need worry folks get held by tho throat and robbed. Police Commissioner Dinnie in his last report said that owing to the increase of population in Auckland and Wellington more police were necessary, Tho Wellington Inspector it is stated lias received the extra hell) he asked for. During the last five years the population of New Zealand has increased very largely and the total increase of the police force has been hut 121 members. Police Inspector Ellison admitted an increase in tho men under his command in 1907 in tho following terms:—"Ono constable at Kilbirnio . . , and one constable at Island Bay.” It is also mentioned that one man was added to the detective staff. In all eleven men were marked off the roll in the Wellington district during 1907, ami apparently this number was made good by enlistments. Whether the police are sufficient or efficient or not, during 1907 in tho Wellington police districts there were increases of crime that seem sufficiently serious in comparison with the increase of tho people and the real or supposed increase in the police force. Following details some of the increases: —Obstructing the police, thirty cases; housebreaking, twenty-one; indecent cxposuro or behaviour, twenty-seven. It is definitely known that even when tho criminal is caught in New Zealand tho punishments ho gets arc shorbdated licenses to c< mmit fresh crimes. Tho prisons as a general thing are places that many people of peculiar tendencies like to spend tho winter in and tho Habitual Criminals Act which gives the power of indeterminately sentencing incorrigible criminals has not deterred anybody yet,, merely because the, only person who was imprisoned on such a sentence was released after a short time on parole and of course escaped as soon as ho conveniently could. Tlie police staff may bo efficient, and sufficient, and this being so is it reasonable to send a gang of seven or eight prisoners on a boat in charge of one warder? Of course if it is reasonable it is very wrong for a single warder to allow a prisoner to escape 1. Why should a prisoner desire to escape when he is going treeplanting? Should it bo necessary to give one person or two persons or one dozen persons billets in tho Government Departments that don't pay (doing ns little as possible in the Idngcst possible time) there is no hesitation in appointing such' persons at salaries higher than these of constables. The essential departments of tho Government arc'frequently understaffed and there aro others that are ridiculously overstaffed and where tho workers find it very hard to obtain enough toil to keep them awake. It is suggested that some of these people (if Wellington cannot afford a conplo of dozen extra police) should bo sworn in as

f}.f'c*iai const-iMcs to earn chcir salaries:. But we are- evidently cutting down police f :-:p.‘-n-;es. in iSS7 (litre warone countable? to tve:y I’-oo pc?i?onx in tho colony. This cost every inhabitant In 18b') police protection cost the people Ys 7;d per head and there was ono consiablo to 1080 people. in 1908 vo Ujc dc-pa: tjr.ent's ov n hfnirco there is one constable to 13J1 '\A'-j]n-‘ and the people P’.iy A, l:b! pci htad i'or this been. J.T is conceNable thru the people New Zealand, and at this jnncwuie especially the people of Wellington, would "cheert ally p,.y 1 alf a sort reign per head per year in order to keep their throats out of the clutch of gu-rroU’rs,—l am, etc., CTVIS.