H.—l6.

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 1938 was 93-92, the figures of the preceding year being 93-39.

Serious Crimes . 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

Number o£ Offences Number in which p t\- . 1 1 i Number of in which Arrests no Arrests Offences reported. or Summonses or Summonses resulted. resulted. Wliangarei .. .. .. .. .. 1,571 1,495 76 Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 12,328 11,339 989 Hamilton .. .. .. .. .. 3,059 2,873 186 Gisborne 1,589 1,536 53 Napier .. .. .. .. .. 1,893 1,790 103 New Plymouth .. .. .. .. 1,402 1,330 72 Wanganui .. .. .. .. .. 1,423 1,382 41 Palmerston North .. .. .. .. 2,218 2,148 70 Wellington .. .. .. .. 7,304 6,968 336 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. 846 809 37 Greymouth .. .. ,. .. 914 867 47 Christchurch .. .. .. .. 4,834 4,417 417 Timaru .. .. .. .. .. 856 735 121 Dunedin 2,963 2,871 92 lnvereargill .. .. .. .. 1,108 1,058 50 Totals .. .. .. .. 44,308 41,618 2,690

1937. 1938. Crimes. AT , „ n Number of AT , ~ Number of Number 01 r ,r? . Number of Offences m n <¥«„««« Oftences in reported which Arrests ,, which Arrests reported. refmlted- reported. resulted . Arson .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 8 15 13 Robbery and aggravated robbery .. .. .. 8 8 14 13 Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. .. 1,116 819 1,206 916 Forgery and uttering .. .. .. .. 173 159 118 105 Murder.. .. .. .. .. .. 4 4 7 6 Murder, attempted .. . . .. .. 5 4 Rape .. .. .. .. .. 5 5 12 11 Receiving stolen property . . ., .. 122 123 98 96 Wounding witli intent .. .. .. .. 3 3 4 4 Totals .. ■■ ■■ .. 1,448 1,133 1,474 1,164

Offencea. 1937. I 1938. _J Unnatural offence .. . . .. .. . . 16 27 Unnatural offence, attempted . . . . . . . . 12 5 Indecently assaulting a male .. .. .. .. 73 61 Incest .. . . . . . . .. .. 20 21 Indecent acts .. .. . .. .. 19 35 Concealment of birth .. . . .. .. . . 4 1 Assault, indecent .. .. .. .. .. 112 102 Rape .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 12 Rape, attempted . . .. .. .. .. 15 8 Carnally knowing girls .. .. , . .. 92 .29 Carnally knowing girls, attempted .. . . . . 9 9 Abortion, procuring, &c. .. .. . . .. 18 14 Exposure of person and grossly indecent acts .. .. 222 222 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 617 546