THE DANGER MARK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16543, 29 September 1921, Page 7

THE DANGER MARK.

POLICE FORCE CUT DOWN. CITY FULL OF VAGRANTS* OFFENCES INCREASING. Retrenchment in the police fore© has reached tho danger mark. To-day, though the city is almost full of various kinds of vagrants and undesirables, there were only two constables on actual beat duty. To-night eighi men under on© sergeant will patrol all the blocks between the four belts. A casual glance at Police Court reports shows plainly that offences against property are increasing a.t an alarming rate. Mr Wyvera Wilson, S.M., said the other day that a race of thieves seemed to be growing up in tho Dominion. Last week an influx of bad characters set in from th© North Island, ostensibly looking for work. These men are still coming in. Times are too hard in Auckland and Wellington. They are seeing what can bo picked up in Christchurch. “We can’t look after them,” said a police officer this morning. “ The force is below' strength and work is heavier than ever. It is time something was done. Less than a year ago there were twelve oonstablos and two sergeants on night duty. Now tho number is nine. If a big row’ occurred in the daytime near tho Square, or the railway station, or any of the main streets, only two constables would b© free to join in. If the row developed, headquarters would have to bo telephoned and extra men would have to bo summoned from their bods or from their desks.”

There is no evidence that the Government is deliberately reducing the police force personnel. The trouble is that recruits are not coming forward in large enough numbers to fill tlie gape. They are attracted by the pay and scared by th© hours. A policeman, gets no overtime. Another drawback is the discipline. Young recruita often find it so irksome that nt the end of a month they are more than ready to quit. From information given to a “ Star ” reporter, it appears that the police training depot in Wellington has been going steadily for some time, but the calls for extra men are heavy. An official report shows that in one year eighty-two men left the force and eighty-four joined. In addition, country districts are always clamouring for more protection, and occasionally they arc served at the expense of the cities.

Even at full strength, however, there is only about one policeman, to every 1500 people in New Zealand, and that figure takes into account tho policemen who are clerks and special duty men, as well as the Commissioner, the Superintendents, and the Inspectors. In some respects suburbs of Christchurch are better off than the city area. New Brighton, for instance, lias one constable to itself, that is. when there is no demand for his presence elsewhere. When the suburban constable has to appear in Court, then tho suburb is left unguarded. At night the constables on city beats have to he prepared to take in a stretch of suburb. The outer area man must have his sleep.

With such a state of affair 3, it is hardly any wonder that crimes against; property are reported everv day. and that many offenders go unpunished. Scores of small sneak thefts, in fact, are never reported to the police. Raids on Washing and fowlhouses and vegetable gardens go on withodt interruption. Bicycles vanish from private stands and motor-car parts are lifted in broad daylight. Conditions are growing worse instead of better. On all sides there is a demand for increased police protection.