H.—l6

2

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 849 on the figures of 1914. The proportion of offences to the population was 2-46 per cent., as against 2-40 the previous year. The principal increases during the year appear under the following headings, viz. : — Assaults, indecent .. .. 34 Failing to maintain wives, &c. .. . . 140 Cruelty to animals .. .. 40 False pretences .. .. 33 Discharging firearms . . .. 62 Mischief .. . . . . . . 53 Disobeying orders of Court or summonses .. 77 Obscene language .. . . 83 Drunkenness . . .. .. .. 78 Theft (undescribed) . . . . . . 234 Escaping from legal custody . . .. 46 Vagrancy offences . . . . 85 The principal decreases were, — Assaults causing bodily harm .. 27 Furious riding and driving . . 80 Breaches of peace .. . . 28 Gaming offences .. . . 51 Burglary, housebreaking, &c. .. ..32 Obstructing and resisting police. . .. 43 Disobeying orders on board ships . . 59 Suicide (attempted) .. . . 30 Forgery and uttering .. .. ..30 Theft from the person .. ... ..27 The percentage of arrests or summonses resulting from all offences reported during the year 1915 was 95-36, the figures of the preceding year being 96-12. The following return shows the number of offences reported in each police district during the year, the number of cases in which arrests or summonses resulted, and the number in which no prosecution followed :—

Serious Crimes. The following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the previous year:—■

District. Number of all Offences reported. Number of Offences in which Arrests or Summonses resulted. Number in which no Arrests or Summonses resulted. Auckland Hamilton Napier Wanganui Wellington Greymouth Christchurch Dunedin 6,375 2,136 2,169 2,583 6,921 834 4,110 2,417 867 5,950 2,065 2,038 2,490 6,591 812 3,962 2,340 848 425 71 131 93 330 22 148 77 19 _>* Invercargill Totals 28,412 27,096 1,316

1914. 1915. Crimes. I Number of mber of I Number of of Offences °?1?T* "♦ Offences " ffe 1 no f s ln t Arson Assault and robbery ... Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. Forgery and uttering ...» Murder Murder, attempted ... 16 29 443 149 9 4 6 53 2 16 27 328 135 7 4 6 53 2 20 20 411 119 6 1 3 63 1 17 16 289 110 5 1 2 63 1 Rape Receiving stolen property Shooting with intent Totals ... 711 578 644 504 gBW, A-