H.—l6

There were decreases in the following : — Assault (indecent) .. .. .. 29 Breaches of prohibition orders .. .. 231 Drunkenness .. .. .. 2,263 Absent from ships without leave .. .. 58 Indecent exposure, he. .. .. 49 Stowing away on ships .. ... 49 Using profane, indecent, or obscene lan- Supplying liquor to persons under twenty-one guage . . .. . . .. 204 years . . . . .. 60 Assaulting, resisting, or obstructing police 61 Drunkenness or violent behaviour on railways 49 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 1922 was 92-48, the figures of the preceding year being 94*36. Serious Ceimes. The following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the previous year : —

Indecent and sexual offences were as under :—

2

Police District. Number of Offences reported. Number of Offences Number in which in which Arrests no Arrests or Summonses or Summonses resulted. resulted. Whangarei Auckland Hamilton Gisborne Napier New Plymouth ... Wanganui Palmerscon North Wellington Grey mouth Christchurch Timaru Dunedin 787 5,173 1,749 807 1,210 677 1,105 1,119 4,463 1,347 3,445 870 1,196 751 756 4,634 1,666 785 1,136 647 1,061 1,057 4,197 1,314 8,010 788 1,074 718 31 539 83 22 74 30 44 62 266 33 435 82 122 33 Invercargill Totals 24,699 22,843 1,856

1921. 19: 12; Crimes. , T , . Number of Number of ,, a „« Offences in Offences , . , . , reported. i whloh eats p resulted. Number of Offences reported. Number of Offences in which Arrests resulted. Arson Robbery and aggravated robbery Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. Forgery and uttering Murder Murder, attempted ... 19 10 717 169 10 4 12 124 5 17 7 539 162 8 4 10 124 5 33 11 872 156 5 10 4 138 33 10 626 133 5 9 2 136 Rape Receiving stolen property Wounding with intent Totals ... 1,070 876 1,229 954

Offences. 1921. 1922. Unnatural offence Unnatural offence, attempted Indecently assaulting a male Incest Indecent acts Concealment of birth.. Assault, indecent Rape Rape, attempted Carnally knowing girls Carnally knowing girls, attempted Abortion, procuring, &c. Exposure of person and grossly indecent acts 6 26 13 25 2 114 12 3 36 6 4 280 8 2 43 8 27 3 85 4 11 29 12 5 231 Totals .. 527 468