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1904. NEW ZEALAND.

THE POLICE FORCE OF THE COLONY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Commissioner of Police to the Hon. the Ministeb of Justice. Sib, — Police Department, Commissioner's Office, 7th June, 1904. I have the honour to submit for your information my first annual report on the Police Force of the colony (together with the criminal statistics) for the year ended 31st March last. Strength of Force. On the 31st March last the strength of the Force was 626 of all ranks, being an increase of 13 during the year. The total is made up as follows : Inspectors, 8 ; Sub-Inspectors, 4 ; sergeantsmajor, 1; sergeants, 58; constables, 528; probationers, 6 ; detectives, 21. In addition to above, there were 4 police surgeons, 4 matrons, 22 district constables, 11 Native constables, and 71 horses. Stations. New stations have been formed at Porangahau, and Brooklyn (Wellington), and district constables have been placed at Whangamomona and Karamea. Casualties. The casualties (Appendix C) have been : Retired under the Police Provident Fund Act, 10; resigned, 9 ; died, 4 ; dismissals, 2 : total, 25. This is 14 less than in the preceding year. Criminal Statistics. The criminal statistics (Appendix A) deal with all offences reported to the police during the year ended the 31st December last, and show an aggregate net increase of 965 on the figures of 1902, but this does not represent any marked increase on a population basis, as in 1902 the proportion of offences to the population was 235 per cent., whereas in 1903 it was 236 per cent. The principal increases were: Assaults, common, 50 ; assaults on police, 20; breaches of the peace, 133; disobeyance of Court and summonses, 62 ; disorderly and riotous conduct, 86; drunkenness, 546; failing to support parents and relatives, 22; false declarations, 20; false pretences, 53 ; illegally taking fish, 44 ; illegally on premises, 40; indecent exposure or behaviour, 36; obscene language, 124 ; obstructing thoroughfares, 70; sly - grog selling, 98; soliciting prostitution, 28 ; stowaways, 45 ; theft by servants, 22 ; vagrancy, 97. The principal decreases were : Arson, 45 ; burglary, 109 ; cruelty to animals, 40; deserting families, 101; deserters from ships, 25 ; disobeying orders on ships, 46 ; forgery and uttering, 23; furious driving or riding, 44 ; gaming offences, 28 ; theft, undeseribed, 69; theft of cattle or horses, 30; theft from dwellings, 40. Cases of lunacy and escaping from lunatic asylums are not included in the criminal returns. Serious Crimes. It is important and satisfactory to observe the marked decrease (203) in the number of serious crimes during the year ended the 31st December last, as compared with the preceding year. This may to a certain extent be accounted for by the stringent carrying-out of the recent important amendments to the Police Offences Act dealing with vagrants. " The percentage of arrests for serious crimes has also considerably improved, which tends to demonstrate the general efficiency of both the preventive and detective branches of the Department. I—H. 16.