H.—l6,

2

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 994 on the figures of 1927. The proportion of offences to the population was 2-25 per cent., as against 2-21 the previous year. The principal increases during the year appear under the following headings, viz. : — Theft (petty) .. .. .. 32 Failing to maintain wives, &c. .. .. 313 Obtaining credit by fraud .. .. 59 Selling liquor after hours .. .. 124 False accounting by clerks, &c. .. .. 88 Being found on licensed premises after Receiving stolen goods .. .. .. 65 hours .. . . .. .. 193 Mischief .. .. .. .. 142 Breaches of Motor-vehicles Act . . 1,506 There were decreases in the following offences : — Assault (common) .. .. .. 105 Breaches of the peace.. .. . . 1.44 Theft by clerks or servants . . .. 35 Drunkenness .. .. .. 283 False pretences .. .. .. 71 Vagrancy offences .. . . .. 172 Burglary, shop-breaking, &c. .. .. 115 Gaming offences . . . . . . 357 Arson .. .. .. 27 Breaches of prohibition orders .. .. 110 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 1928 was 92-4, the figures of the preceding year being 92-7. Serious Crimes. The following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the previous year :—

Number of Offences Number in which Pni;™ niotnVf Number of in which Arrests no Arrests Offences reported. or Summonses or Summonses resulted. resulted. I Whangarei ... ... ... ... 764 726 38 Auckland co-ordinated districts ... ... 8,909 8,207 702 Hamilton ... ... ... ... 1,767 1,569 198 Gisborne ... ... ... ... 1,200 1,176 24 Napier ... ... ... ... 1,459 1,390 69 New Plymouth... ... ... ... 1,485 1,409 76 Wanganui ... ... ... ... 1,017 952 65 Palmerston North ... ... ... 1,246 1,151 95 Wellington co-ordinated districts ... ... 5,057 4,765 292 Nelson ... ... ... ... 682 632 50 Greymouth ... ... ... ... 1,404 1,380 24 Christchurch co-ordinated districts ... 4,220 3,575 645 Timaru ... ... ... ... 1,131 1,082 49 Dunedin ... ... ... ... 1,588 1,431 157 Invercargill ... ... ... ... 1,209 1,177 32 Totals ... ... 33,138 30,622 2,516

1927. 1928. GrimeS ' Number o£ Number of of Offences m f Offences ??T°f S "1 reported. -ported. Arson ... ... ... ... ... 47 46 20 J 7 Robbery and aggravated robbery ... ... 20 16 10 8 Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. ... 1,101 687 986 546 Forgery and uttering ... ... ... 215 203 208 200 Murder ... ... ... ... ... 13 7 2 2 Murder, attempted ... ... .. ... 4 3 3 3 Rape ... ... ... ... ... 11 10 13 12 Receiving stolen property ... ... ... 107 107 172 171 Wounding with intent ... ... ... 2 2 1 1 Totals ... ... ... ... 1,520 1,081 1,415 960