POLICE REPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19314, 15 October 1932, Page 19

POLICE REPORT

COMMISSIONER DEALS WITH CRIME FIGURES.

By TelpffraDL Press Association WELLINGTON, October 14. Measured by the number of offenders reported to the police, there was a decrease of crime in New Zealand last year compared with the statistics of 1930. In his annual report presented to the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr W. G. Wohlmann, Commissioner of Police, says the number of offences reported was 2854, compared with 3388 in 1930, a decrease of 534. The proportionl of offences to population was 2.4 per cent., against 2.46 in 1930. The principal increases were:— Petty theft 559 Burglary and house-breaking .. 345 Selling liquor after hours ... 192 Breaches of Motor Vehicles Act 561 Breaches of Arms Act 13] The principal decreases were:— Drunkenness 142 Being on licensed premises after closing hours 32 Failing to maintain wives and families 288 Brenches of prohibition orders . . 259 The increase in the cases of theft and burglary can be largely attributed to economic stress, with consequent unemployment, says Mr Wohlmann. The increase in sobriety is probably caused by the decreased purchasing power in conjunction with the changing habits of the people. Murder Cases. The Commissioner says the increase in cases of murder from seven in 1930 to 13 in 1931, although to be noticed with serious regret, should not be regarded as abnormal. There were 13 cases of murder in 1920, 1926, and 192 and over the past 13 years the average number has been 9.5. The circumstances in which thiese crimes were committed indicated that they were not preventable by any police measures. “The regrettable increase in crime against property compels me to repeat my observations of last year on the of increased provision for motor transport for the police in the principal cities, so that a police motor patrol can be maintained, particularly at night,” adds the report. Social Disorders. Discussing the social disorders which occurred recently, Mr Wohlmann comments that this exhibition of lawlessness and challenge to the forces of law and order by an ill-advised section produced an immediate answer, prompt and unmistakable, from the mass of citizens, who evinced their determination to check any attempt at mob law by furnishing such reserves of power behind the civil police as the circumstances required. This prompt and highly-valued help quickly changed the situation, which very soon returned to normal.