CRIME IN THE DOMINION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22354, 30 August 1934, Page 11

CRIME IN THE DOMINION

DECREASE DURING PAST YEAR VALUE OF FINGERPRINT SYSTEM » i (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, August 29. Statistics published in the animal report of the Police Department, which was tabled in the House of Representatives to-day, show that offences reported to the police during 1933 totalled 33,302, a decrease of 2060 on the figures for the previous year. The proportion of offences to population was 2.15 per cent, compared with 2.3 per cent, in 1932. The Commissioner of Police (Mr W. G. Wohlmann) states in his report that the continued decrease in the crime of burglary, housebreaking, etc., and the decrease in petty thefts were gratifying. The decrease in the offences of unlawful conversion of motor cars—lß7 in 1933 and 255 in 1932—was noteworthy in view of the agitation for increased penalties. The decrease in drunkenness still continued. The increase' in the convictions for breaches of the Gaming Act last year was 63 and on the previous year 88. indicating continued police activity The law dealing with bookmaking required strengthening. At headquarters, finger impressions of 2656 . persons were received, classified, searched, indexed, and filed during the year. In 21 eases of breaking and en tering the fingerprints left by the offenders when committing crimes were identified and the offenders prosecuted In five of these eases enlarged photographs vere prepared and the necessary evidence was tendered, resulting in three convictions in the Supreme Court and two admissions of guilt in the lower court. Sixteen other offenders pleaded guilty in the lower court. It is explained in the report that the finger-print system in New Zealand has to date been responsible for the identification of no fewer than 6109 persons. Mr Wohlmann mentions that the high percentage of detected offences referred to in last veer’s report has been maintained. Tbe gratifying reduction in social unrest, which was commented on last year, had continued and conditions happily were becoming more normal.