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1914. NEW ZEALAND.

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

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

The Commissioner of Police to the Hon. the Minister of Justice. Police Department, Wellington, 25th June, 1914. I have the honour to present the annual report on the Police Force for the year ended the 31st March last. Strength of Force. On the 31st March last the strength of the Force was 870 of all ranks, being an increase of 24 during the year. The total is made up as follows • — Superintendents ... ... ... .. ... ... 4 Inspectors ... ... ... • • • ■ ■ • ... 7 Sub-Inspectors ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 Senior sergeants ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 Sergeants ... ... ... ... ... ... 74 Constables ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 707 Chief Detectives ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Detective sergeants ... ... ... ... ... ... 16 Detectives ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19 Acting-detectives ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 In addition to the above there were — Police surgeons ... ... ... . . ... i Matrons ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 District constables ... ... ... ... ... 1 5 Native constables ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Stations. New stations have been established at Motu and Cobden ; and the station at Lyel] has been closed. The station at Rakauroa has been transferred to Matawai, that at Cullensville to Mahakipawa, and Cass to Bealey Flat. The district constable at Houhora has been replaced by a regular member of the Force. Casualties. The following are the casualties for the year ended the 31st March last : Retired on pension under Public Service Superannuation Act, 8; retired as medically unfit, 1; died, 4; resigned voluntarily, 34; called upon to resign, 3; transferred to Prisons Department, 1; dismissed, 1; services dispensed with, 4 : total, 56. This is the same number as 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 decrease of 566 on the figures of 1912. The proportion of offences to the population was 224 per cent., as against 2/35 the previous year.

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