H.—l6

2

Casualties. The following are the casualties for the year ended 81st March last : Retired on pension under the Public Service Superannuation Act, 7 ; died, 4 ; resigned voluntarily, 42 ; called upon to resign, 2 ; dismissed, 3 : total, 58. This is 2 less than in the preceding year. Criminal Statistics. The criminal statistics (Appendix A) deal with offences reported to the police during the year ended the 31st December last, and show an aggregate net increase of 1,828 on the figures of 1919. The proportion of offences to the population was 2-09 per cent., as against 1-99 the previous year. The principal increases during the year appear under the following headings, viz.: — Theft (undescribed) .. .. .. 661 Vagrancy offences .. .. .. 101 House or shop breaking .. .. 39 Unlawfully using motor-cars, &c... .. 121 Receiving stolen property . . .. 28 Failing to maintain wives, &c. .. .. 267 Forgery .. .. .. 4:2 Embezzling cargo .. . . 36 Drunkenness . . .. .. .. ' 764 Being found on licensed premises after hours 228 Using profane, indecent, or obscene language 25 Unlawful betting .. .. 32 There were decreases in the following : — Assault (common) .. .. 88 Selling liquor after hours .. .. 95 Mischief .. .. . . 78 Breaches of prohibition orders .. .. 76 Assaulting or obstructing police. . .. 69 Absconding from industrial schools .. 41 Gaming with instruments .. .. 68 Ship-desertion .. .. .. 36 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 : —

The percentage of arrests or summonses resulting from offences reported during the year 1920 was 94-68, the figures of the preceding year being 96-02. Serious Crimes. The following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the previous year : —

Police District. Number of Offences reported. Number of Offences Number in whioh in which .Arrests no Arrests or Summonses or Summonses resulted. resulted. Whangarei Auckland Hamilton Napier Wanganui Palmerston North Wellington Greymouth Christchurch Timaru Dunedin 699 5,214 2,340 1,999 1,748 1,173 5,334 1,025 3,596 795 1,285 898 678 4,965 2,225 1,916 1,686 1,117 5,035 996 3,287 751 1,194 868 21 249 115 83 62 56 299 29 309 44 91 30 Invercargill Totals 26,106 24,718 1,388

19 .9. 19! iO. Crimes. Number of Offencos in which Arrests resulted. Number of Offences in whioh Arrests resulted. Number of Offences reported. Number of Offences reported. Arson Robbery and aggravated robbery Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. Forgery and uttering Murder Murder, attempted ... 22 5 521 112 9 1 8 63 3 19 4 426 104 9 1 7 63 3 16 21 573 149 13 8 4 91 4 15 16 446 127 12 8 4 91 4 Rape Receiving stolen property Wounding with intent Totals ... 744 636 879