POLICE YEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 254, 26 October 1937, Page 9

POLICE YEAR

Increase In Work MORE EXCESSIVE DRINKING An increase in criminal statistics over the previous year is shown in the annual report on the police force of the Dominion, which was presented to the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The statistics deal with the year 1936 and show an aggregate net increase of £2280 on the ligures for 1935. The proportion of offences to the population was 2.23 per cent., as against 2.11 in the previous year. Increases occurred as follow: Common assault, 110; breaches of prohibition orders, 72; drunkenness, 1016; indecent acts, 36; false statements and declarations, 63; on licensed premises after closing hours, 136; on premises where liquor was seized, 109; found in common gaming houses, 108. There were decreases in cases of burglary, breaches of the Arms Act, false pretences, maintenance offences, causing death or bodily injury through reckless driving, being intoxicated in charge of a motor vehicle, reckless or negligent driving, minor breaches of the Motor Vehicles Act, petty theft, theft from dwellings, vagrancy, and a number of less common offences. Percentage of Arrests. In the whole of New Zealand 35,448 offences were reported, and 33,052 offenders were brought up under arrest or on summons. The percentage of arrests or summonses was 93.24, compared with 92.26 during the previous year. In the Auckland district 6572 persons were apprehended. Wellington came next with 5928, Christchurch being third with 3800, and Dunedin fourth with 2836. Timaru was at the bottom with only 606. Under the heading of serious crimes 1372 offences were reported and 1064 arrests were made. Burglary and breaking into shops, dwellings, etc., accounted for the majority of these cases, 774 persons being arrested for such offences. Receiving stolen property accounted for 92. There were only eight cases of murder, compared with 11 during the previous years. Four arrests were made, while one murderer committed suicide. In one case no arrest followed. The charge against one of the four persons arrested was dismissed by a magistrate, while the other three were acquitted, one acquittal being on the ground of insanity.