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1925. NEW ZEALAND

THE POLICE FORCE OF THE DOMINION (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 in Charge of Police Department. Police Department, Wellington, 2Gth July, 1925. I have the honour to present the annual report on the Police Force for the year ended 31st March, last. Strength of Force. On the 31st March last the number of permanent members of the Force of all ranks was 1,006, being a decrease of three during the year. The total is made up as follows : — Superintendents .. .. .. .. .. 5 Inspectors .. . . .. .. .. 13 Sub-Inspectors .. .. .. .. .. 5 Senior Sergeants .. .. .. .. 29 Sergeants .. . . .. .. .. 92 Constables . . . . .. .. .. 811 Senior Detectives .. . . .. . . .. 7 Detective-sergeants . . .. .. .. .. 8 Detectives .. .. .. .. .. 36 In addition to the above there were — Police surgeons .. .. .. .. .12 Matrons ~ .. .. .. .. .. 8 District constables .. .. .. .. . . 6 Native constables . . .. .. .. .. 4 There were, however, twenty-four probationers in the training-depot who had completed their course of training and who were appointed as constables on the Ist April, bringing the total permanent strength on that date up to 1,030. There were also twenty temporary constables appointed under section 2 of the Police Force Amendment Act, 1919 ; four of these were recruits undergoing a period of probationary service with a view to permanent appointment ; the remaining sixteen were temporary constables appointed during the war period who were over age or otherwise unsuitable for permanent appointment. Stations. New stations have been established at Taneatua, Kaiti, Arapuni, and Ohura, and the station at Matiere has been closed. Casualties. The following are the casualties for the year ended 31st March last : Retired on pension under the Public Service Superannuation Act, 8 ; retired as medically unfit, 7 ; died, 5 ; resigned voluntarily, 37 ; called upon to resign, 6 ; dismissed, 2 : total, 65. This is the same number as in the preceding year.

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