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 529 on the figures of 1926. The proportion of offences to the population was 2-2 l per cent., as against 2-19 the previous year. The principal increases during the year appear under the following headings, viz. :■ — False pretences .. .. .. 191 Gaming offences .. .. .. 252 Burglary, house-breaking, &c. .. .. 251 Failing to maintain wives, &c. .. .. 142 Arson .. .. .. .. 23 Selling liquor after hours .. .. 64 Breaches of the peace .. .. 86 Found on licensed premises after hours .. 160 Vagrancy offences .. .. . . 59 Breaches of Motor-vehicles Act .. .. 982 There were decreases in the following : — Assault (common) .. .. .. 56 Using profane, indecent, or obscene language 71 Theft from dwellings (attempted) .. 68 Assaulting or resisting police .. .. 49 Drunkenness .. .. .. .. 970 Unlawfully using motor-cars .. .. 66 Exposure of person and grossly indecent acts 72 Arms Act, breaches of .. .. .. 135 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 1927 was 92'7, the figures of the preceding year being 92-35. Sebious . 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 p .. -p.- , . . | Number of in which Arrests no Arrests o ice is ric . I offences reported. or Summonses or Summonses ] resulted. resulted. l . . I ■ ■■ ■ Whangarei ... ... ... ... 722 703 19 Auckland ... ... ... ... 8,861 8,017 844 Hamilton ... ... ... ... 2,255 2,204 51 Gisborne ... ... ... ... 1,025 998 27 Napier .,. ... <.. .... , 1,484 1,441 43 New Plymouth... ... ... ... 1,046 977 69 Wanganui ... ... ... ... 997 935 62 Palmerston North ... ... ... 1,359 1,317 42 Wellington ... ... ... ... 5,398, 5,164 234 Greyinouth ... ... ... ... 1,158 1,128 30 Ohristcliurch ... ... ... ... 4,182 3,479 703 ' Timaru ... ... ... ... 1,008 939 69 Dunedin ... ... ... ... 1,614 1,503 111 Invercargill ... ... ... ... 1,035 994 41 Totals ... ... ... 32,144 29,799 2,345

1926. 1927. Grimes - Number o£ mber of Number of i Number-of Offences i ° fi ff 8 ln t Offences ?? e ™ eS reported, ' W *^ d re P°' ted - "tufted Arson ... ... ... ... ... 24 33 47 46 Robbery and aggravated robbery ... ... 13 9 20 16 Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. ... 850 511 1,101 687 Forgery and uttering ... ... ... 196 181 215 203 Murder .„ ... ... ... ... 13 9 13 7 Murder, attempted ... ... .. ... 5 5 4 3 Rape ... ... ... ... 8 6 11 10 Receiving stolen property ... ... ... Ill 109 107 107 Wounding with intent ... ... ... 4 4 2 2 _ Totals ... „. ... ... 1,224 847 1,520 1,081