WELL-BEHAVED LONDON.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15361, 9 October 1923, Page 6

WELL-BEHAVED LONDON.

GIGANTIC WORK OF POLICE. London has not much need for concern about its behavour. This fact is made abundantly clear by the report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for the year 1922, which was issued recently. Police London covers the vast area of 700 square miles, and much of it is densely populated. It has a population of over seven million persons. This multitude is looked after by about 20,000 policemen, who protect lives, amenities, and property with such efficiency that anybody can walk homo through deserted streets at any hour of the night without fear of molestation on the road or of apprehension that he (or she) will find the house burgled on arrival. Furthermore, the helpful policemen control the terrific traffic, conduct old ladies and children across the street, and keep down the inevitable accidents to an extremely low figure. Sir William Horwood, the Commissioner, suggests that even more could be done but for the demand of the Government that, as part of the economy scheme, he should reduce his establishment by five per cent. A diagram of the proceedings for drunkenness -between the years 1913 and 1922 shows some astonishing curves. In 1914 there were 77,000 charges; in 1918 there were 11,353; last year there were 33,912. On this matter the Commissioner says:— "About three years ago It became noticeable that the condition of many of the persons charged with drunkenness was attributable to the consumption of methylated spirits, and during the year 1921 attracted attention. The result showed that convictions were obtained in 58 instances of the kind, 34 men being fined or imprisoned, and 24 Women. In 1921 there was a marked increase in this direction, the figures being 42 convictions of men, and 38 of women. These numbers include the case of a man and a woman who were each convicted three times during the year, and there are several instances where men and women have been convicted more than once. One woman was as old as 69, and one man as young aS oi and he was convicted twice. Tne growth of this habit has not yet assumed alarming proportions; but me matter will require careful observation, especially having regard to the very serious effect which frequently follows the drinking of so potent a mixture." . . In a section devoted to crimes or violence, the Commissioner says:: "With the exception of the murder of Field-Marshall Sir Henry Wilson there has been no recurrence of the serious outrages committed ftom political motives to which attention was clrawn last year. The courage displayed both by the private individuals and the police officers who took up the chase of the Field-Marshal's murderers was beyond all praise. '•Twenty-six cases of murder or persons above one year of age were recorded as against 21 in 1921. Arrests were affected in 13 cases, and in the remaining 13 the murderers committed suicide. The total number or nersons apprehended and charged was 16 as against 7 for 1921. Of the 16' (one being for murder committed in 1921), 13 were committed and sentenced to death, and three were found to be insane at the time of the commission of the crime. In each of the three cases there were two prisoners, and in one case there were two crimes against one prisoner." The Commissioner reports that property to the value of £670,415 was stolen in 1922 a decrease of £120,170 as against the preceding year; and that, as between the two years, the value of the stolen property recovered increased from £121,111 to £168,377. The thefts (though the Commissioner refrains from slating this) are'a minute trifle compared with the value of ttie KOaJs kepj, ]Q4h,B IIOUSCS Of Lon-