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Session 11. 1906. 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 Minister of Justice. Sir, — Police Department, Commissioner's Office, sth June, 1906. I have the honour to submit for your information the 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 667 (exclusive of one constable on leave prior to retirement) of all ranks, being an increase of 12 during the year. The total is made up as follows :— Inspectors ... ... ... ... ... 8 Sub-inspectors ... ... ... ... ... 6 Station sergeants ... ... ... ... ... 4 Sergeant-major ... .. ... ... ... 1 Sergeants ... ... ... ... ... 66 Constables ... ... ... ... ... 540 Chief detectives ... ... ... .. ... 4 Detectives ... ... ... ... ... 21 Acting-detectives... ... ... ... ... 17 In addition to the above there were — Police surgeons ... ... ... ... ... 4 Matrons ... ... ... ... ... 4 District constables ... ... ... ... 21 Native constables... ... ... ... ... 9 Troop horses ... ... ... ... ... 58 Stations. New stations have been formed at Birkenhead, Willis Street (Palmerston North), and Tinakori Road (Wellington) ; a district constable has been placed at Murchison, and a Native constable at Omaio. The stations at Chatto Creek and Surrey Hills have been closed. Casualties. The following are the casualties for the year ended 31st March last. The figures are somewhat in excess of previous years, principally owing to dismissals and compulsory resignations following the investigations held into the Dunedin trouble : Retired under Police Provident Fund Act, 14; died, 5; resigned voluntarily, 11 ; dismissed, 11 ; called upon to resign, 25; total, 66. 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 decrease of 817 on the figures of 1904. The average annual increase for the last five years being 944, makes the actual decrease on an average basis 1,761, which is principally accounted for by the reduction (908) in the number of persons dealt with for drunkenness. The proportion of offences to the population as compared with the preceding year has been reduced from 233 to 2TB per cent. The principal decreases during the year as shown by the statistics were as follows, viz. :— Abusive and threatening language . ... 54 Malicious injury to property ... ... 56 Drunkenness ... ... ... ... 908 Obscene and profane language ... ... 77 Illegally on premises ... ... ... 50 Obstructing and resisting police ... ... 65 Indecent exposure or behaviour ... ... 51 Theft from dwellings ... ... ... 44

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