H.—l6.

Criminal Statistics. The criminal statistics (Appendix A) deal with offences reported to the police during the year ended 31st December last, and show an aggregate net increase of 1,145 on the figures of 1925. The proportion of offences to the population was 2-19 per cent., as against 2-16 the previous year. The principal increases during the year appear under the following headings, viz.: — Theft (undescribed) .. .. .. 806 Using profane, indecent, or obscene language 73 Theft from dwellings .. .. .. 30 Vagrancy offences . . .. .. 234 Theft from dwellings (attempted) .. 65 Unlawfully using horses, motor-cars, &c. .. 201 False pretences .. .. .. 108 Failing to maintain wives, &c. .. .. 706 Obtaining credit by fraud .. .. 60 Breaches of Arms Act .. .. 127 Burglary, house-breaking, &c. .. . . 211 Breaches of Motor-vehicles Act .. .. 684 Indecent exposure, &c. .. .. .. 88 I There were decreases in the following : — Assault (common) .. .. .. 31 Stealing postal packets .. .. 31 Mischief .. .. .. .. 68 Ship-desertion .. .. 132 Breaches of the peace .. .. .. 152 Disciplinary-offences on ships .. .. 782 Drunkenness .. .. .. .. 424 ! Selling liquor after hours .. . . 125 Trespassing on racecourses .. .. 68 Being found on licensed premises after hours 337 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 1926 was 92-35, the figures of the preceding year being 94-08. Serious Crimes. The following is a. return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the previous year :—

2

Number of Offences Number in which Pnlioo n; 0 trir.f i Number of in which Arrests no Arrests i UXluw J-zlbuliUUi /-~\ fy p. - Onences reported. or Summonses or Summonses resulted. resulted. Whangarei ... ... ... ... 890 842 48 Auckland ... ... ... ... 8,281 7,299 982 Hamilton ... ... ... ... 3,017 2,889 128 Gisborne ... ... ... ... 1,163 1,142 21 Napier ... ... ... ... 1,550 1,492 58 New Plymouth... ... ... ... 1,055 979 76 Wanganui ... ... ... ... 1,157 1,121 36 Palmerston North ... ... ... 1,242 1,143 99 Wellington ... ... ... ... 5,350 5,064 286 Greymouth ... ... ... ... 1,159 1,128 31 Christchurch ... ... ... ... 3,650 3,210 440 Timaru ... ... ... ... 651 613 38 Dunedin ... ... ... ... 1,486 1,334 152 Invercargill ... ... ... ... 964 943 21 Totals ... ... ... 31,615 29,199 2,416

1925. 1 1926. ° rimeS ' Number of . ™er of j Number of Number of Offences ??t n0 4 e m , ' Offences ° ff T°. eS ln reported. reported, Arson ... ... ... ... ... 22 38 24 13 Eobbery and aggravated robbery ... ... 4 3 13 9 Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. ... 639 445 850 511 Forgery and uttering ... ... ... 222 210 196 181 Murder ... .... ... ... ... 6 5 13 9 Murder, attempted ... ... .. ... 2 2 5 5 Rape ... ... ... ... ... 11 8 8 6 Receiving stolen property ... ... ... 116 116 111 109 Wounding with intent ... ... ... 114 4 ' Totals ... _ 1,023 808 1,224 847