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1939. 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 01? Police to the Hon. the Minister in Charge of Police Department. Police Department, Wellington, 13th July, 1939. 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 members of the Force of all ranks was 1,439, being an increase of eleven during the year. The total is made up as follows :— Superintendents .. .. .. .. .. 6 Inspectors . . .. .. .. .. 15 Sub-Inspectors .. .. .. .. .. 6 Senior sergeants .. .. .. .. .. 34 Sergeants . . .. .. .. .. .. 114: Constables . . . . . . .. . . 1,107 Temporary constables . . .. . . . . 66 Senior detectives .. .. .. .. .. 4 Detective-sergeants .. .. .. .. .. 31 Detectives .. .. .. .. .. .. 56 Tn addition to the above there were — Police surgeons . . .. .. . . .. 15 Matrons .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 District constables .. .. .. .. .. 3 Native constable .. .. .. .. .. 1 The temporary constables were appointed under section 2 of the Police Force Amendment Act, 1919, the majority of them being on probation with a view to filling vacancies in the permanent staff if found suitable. The following are the losses in personnel for the year ended 31st March last: Retired under section 26, Police Force Act, 1919, 1 ; retired on pension under the Public Service Superannuation Act, 8 ; retired as medically unfit, 5 ; died, 11 ; resigned voluntarily, 16 ; dismissed, 1; total, 42. Stations. New stations were established during the year at Wataroa and Northland, and the station at Matainui was closed. 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 5,679 on the figures of 1937. The proportion of offences to the population was 2-73 per cent., as against 2-41 the previous year. There were increases during the year under the following headings, viz. : — Assault (common) .. .. 99 Unlawfully using horses, motor-cars, &c. 130 Theft (petty) .. . . . . 144 Following the occupation of bookmaker 44 Theft by clerks or servants .. .. 34 Maintenance offences .. .. 515 Theft of animals .. .. .. 25 Ship-desertion .. .. .. 66 House or shop breaking, &c. .. .. 120 Breaches of prohibition orders .. 124 Breach of the peace or behaviour with intent 126 Causing death or bodily injury through Drunkenness .. .. .. .. 842 reckless driving .. ... .. 14 Drunk and disorderly .. .. 55 Being intoxicated in charge of motorUsing profane, indecent, or obscene language 74 vehicle .. .. .. .. 176 Vagrancy .. .. .. .. 78 Minor breaches of Motor-vehicles Act .. 4,199 Assaulting, obstructing, or resisting constables, &c. .. .. .. 75 The principal decreases were — False statements and declarations .. 165 Stealing postal packets, mail-bags, &c... 39 Carnally knowing girls under sixteen years 63 Found on licensed premises after closing False pretences .. . . .. 182 hours .. .. .. .. 185 Burglary .. .. .. 34 Selling or exposing liquor for sale without Receiving property dishonestly obtained .. 24 a license, and offences against provisions Forgery .. .. .. 58 in force in no-license districts .. 172 Mischief .. .. .. 41 Opium-smoking .. .. .. 30 Sunday trading .. .. .. 107 Reckless or negligent driving .. .. 192 Found in common gaming-house .. 125

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