SOUTHLAND CRIME STATISTICS

Southland Times, Issue 24765, 9 June 1942, Page 4

SOUTHLAND CRIME STATISTICS

DECREASE LAST YEAR "The incidence of crime in the Southland police district is no better and no worse than in other no-licence districts of similar size in New Zealand.” declared Inspector H. Martin yesterday when commenting on the crime statistics for the Southland district for the last year. Tire figures for 1941 had j shown a general decrease over all classes i of crime, and he was pleased to say there I had been a big decrease in theft cases compared with the figures for 1940. There-had also been less trouble by law-breakers in the more serious crimes. Although it was not as great as in the 1940 period, juvenile crime still occupied a prominent place in the criminal calendar in Southland. Thefts and house-breaking were the common offences of the juvenile and, according to Inspector Martin, such a state of affairs could not be seriously checked until a more rigid control was exercised in the home. Drunkenness had not shown any marked increase during the year, and the convictions of persons intoxicated in charge of motor vehicles had been cut by half. There was also a noticeable decrease in the offence of possessing liquor in the vicinity of dance halls. Decreases were also shown in the offences under the heading of mischief and common assault. The following figures show the number of offences with which persons were charged and convicted in the Southland district for the year ended December 31, 1941 (tha figures for 1940 are given in parentheses):— Theft, 94 (151); breaking and entering, 17 (50); mischief, 21 (55); drunkenness, 67 (60): intoxicated in charge of motor vehicles, 24 (48); possession of liquor in vicinity of dance halls. 58 (86); unlawful conversion of cars, 7 (19); common assault, 10 (19); carnal knowledge and abortion, 3 (0); false pretences, 15 (5); receiving stolen property, 3 (1); credit by fraud and forgery, 13 (15); obscene language, 9 (11); keeping common gaming houses, 2 (1); illegally selling liquor without a licence, 2 (17); selling, opening or exposing liquor for sale by licensees, 26 (18).