THE DUNEDIN POLICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 27

THE DUNEDIN POLICE.

AN INCREASE IN OFFENCES.

DRUNKENNESS ON THE INCREASE

WELLINGTON, August 7. Inspector' O'Brien, in charge of the Dunedm police district, reports : — - The number of offences reported during the year was 2029, as compared -with

] 1740 for the previous year, and the num- ] j her of persons arrested or proceeded j j against by summons during the year was | 1853. This shows an increase of 289 ! offences for the year, many of which may } be attributed to the conduct of juveniles, i there being, how-eveT, an increase of 141 Jin drunkenness. The latter I attribute Ito the continued prosperity and high I wages ruling in the district durinjg the year. '. The principal increases during the year [ were: i j Burglary 15 [ Disobeying orders of the court 49 Indecent exposure 15 i Mischief 20 j Vagrancy 20 The following decreases are shown : — ' Sly grog-celling „. 10 > Stone-throwing .., .-. - - 10 i Theft as a bailea 16 1 Tresspass 13 On the 31st March last the strength of r ' the force- in this district was : 1 inspector, [ 1- sub-inspector, 1 station sergeant, 11 ser1 Igeants, 74 constables, 1 chief detective, " 2 detectives, 3 acting-detectives, 2 district I constables, and 1 matron. E The casualties were: Retired under [ Police Provident Fund Act, nil ; died, 1 ; ' dismissed, nil ; discharged on resignation, I 7. Juvenile drunkenness has from time to \ time been the subject of comment by ! the local press, both anonymous and otherwise. lam satiefied from my per- | eonal observations and from facts gathered , from the officers serving under me that . much of this offence referred to is more apparent than real. It must, however, be stated that youths between the ages of 18 and 21 years are occasionally found I to be actually intoxicated, which is much 3 to be- regretted. I am therefore of 3 opinion that, in the interests of the youths , tnemselvee, no liquor should be sold to them till they have attained the age 5 of 21 years. * There have been 13 prosecutions for 3 sly grog-selling during the year, and fines ■j aggregating £290 have been, imposed. As regards the Clutha district (no-licence - area), I have much pleasure in stating that there has been but one prosecution ' during the year, and theTe is evidence z of the- offence being reduced to a minimum.

There have, been nine prosecutions for gaining offences during the year, and since the Gaming and Lotteries Act of last session came into force there has been a considerable diminution in the worst phases of the offence — namely, frequenting offices for the purpose of betting and •wagering on the result of horse- races, street betting, and that infatuating game known ac "two-up." Jockey clubs are observing the law in respect of totalizators, and the licensing of respectable bookmakers has 6o far [-riven satisfaction.

On the 31st December last the administration of the Infant Life Protection Act was transferred from the police to the. Education Department. The existing infant homes (59) and their inmates were tfhen in a satisfactory condition.

Licensed hotels have, with very few exceptions, been well conducted during the year, and there seems to be a disposition on the part of the majority of licensees to observe the law to the letter, and in this connection the amendment of the licensing law making it an offence for persons who are not lodgers to be found on such premises during the time they are directed to be closed has been found most beneficial. There have been ten prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year, resulting in five convictions. Sunday trading in shops is not so prevalent as hitheTto. There have been seven prosecutions for such offences during the year, resulting in six convictions. I am still of opinion that in order to more effectually check this class of Sunday trading the penalty should be increae.ed from £1 to £5.

During the- year the conduct of the members of the force, with very few exceptions, has been exemplary, and very few punishments have been found necessary. The men have performed their various duties in a manner conducive- to the public welfare and creditable to themselves.

INVERCARGILL

Inspector Mitchell, of the In.vercargill district, reports : —

Two events of importance occurred in this district— (l) On the 21fe-t June, 1907, a fire- in proigrass in the Nightcap.-- Company's coal mine caused the death of three miners named William Duncan, Patrick Walsh, and William Careon, through white-damp. The mine engineer (John Lloyd) was charged with manslaughter, but the jury dis-acrreed. (2) On the 3rd September, 1907, a miner called Harry Reid shot a girl named Lydia Gibbon and then shot himself, at Nightcaps. The apparent cause was jealousy. Both lingered for some days and then died.

Though there has been a slight increase in the number of several classes of offences, such as breaking and entering, assault and robbery, and fake pretences, still, in the aggregate, theTe has been a decrease in the number of offenc-es reported.

Two constables have resigned and one has retired. The conduct of the members of the force has been good, and their attention to duty is indicated by the fact that 95 per cent, of crime in this district ha-s been detected. The brewoTy depots at Waikiwi, on tihe border of the no-license district, have l>pen closed, but i are in two instances being replaced by j breweries. This is to be regretted, see1 ing that the latter are under less restrici taons as to conduct, being able to sell t irrespective of hour. i There have been 11 prosecutions for sly grog-celling. resulting in eight convictions. At the present time there is no evidence that such sales are being carried to any appreciable extent in either the Invercargill or Mataura electorates, or in the Tapanui or Clinton sub-di3tricte.