H.—l6

4

Police Prosecutions. The following is a return of the number of convictions for which fines were imposed and the total amount of such fines in respect of prosecutions instituted by the police during the year ended 31st March, 1933 :—

Criminal Registration Branch. At Headquarters the finger-impressions of 2,945 persons were received, okeeified, searched. indexed, and filed during the year ; 213 persons were identified as previous offenders who, had it ao\ been for the finger-print system, would have passed as first offenders : 1,712 photographs were taken by the photographers attached to the Branch ; the photographs of 3,168 prisoners (6,45] photographs) were dealt with, and 832 photographs were reproduced in the Police Gazette. In twenty-three cases of breaking and entering, finger-prints left by the offenders when committing the crimes were identified, and the offenders prosecuted. In five of these eases enlarged photographs were prepared and the necessary evidence tendered, resulting in four convictions in the Supreme Court, and one admission of guilt in the lower Court. The eighteen other offenders pleaded guilt v at the lower Court, thus saving the expense of Supreme Court trials. Some cases worthy of mention are the following :— At the Supreme Court in Napier two brothers were tried for breaking into a shop at Hastings. The principal evidence tendered against them was that their finger-prints were found on a broken window, through which entry had been made. The jury found both guilty, and they were sentenced to imprisonment. A large drapery emporium at Palmerston North was broken into and goods to the value of £130 stolen. Poor finger-prints were found on the glass door-panel through which entrance was effected. Within eighteen hours from the time of receipt of this glass in the Criminal Registration Branch both the Palmerston North and Wellington detectives were advised as to the person whose iin were found thereon. He was arrested the same day, and later found guilty at the Supreme Conn and sentenced for the offence. In two cases of housebreaking finger-prints found were identified as belonging to a person who had been wanted on warrant for seven years. He was arrested and many offences cleared up. It is interesting to note that the finger-print system in New Zealand has to date been responsible for the identification of no less than 5,926 persons.

The following table shows the increase in the finger-print collection since the introduction of the finger-print system of identification in .March, 1903 :—

Fines payable to Number of Total Amount of Convictions. Fines imposed. Consolidated Fund .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,628 23,764 Main Highways Revenue Fund (section 24, Motor-vehicles Act, 1924) 3,859 6)956 Local authorities (by-law offences) .. .. .. .. 402 265 Total •• •■ •■ •• .. 13,889 30,985

Number of Increase on f^ e ™ ' Number of Increase on f" 80 " 6 ™ Year. Prints m Previous £?f? ™ Year. , Prints in Previous t™K>das Collection. Yea, *™£ Collection. Year. ?£™™ 1904 .. 3,500 3,500 117 1919 .. 22,332 1,350 153 1905 .. 4,200 700 72 1920 .. 23,636 1,354 176 1906 .. 5,000 800 88 1921 .. 26,650 2 964 232 1907 .. i 6,151 1,151 104 1922 .. 28,408 1,758 255 1908 .. I 7,622 1,471 123 1923 .. j 30,284 1,876 292 1909 .. ! 8,718 1,096 138 ! 1924 .. 31,929 1,615 289 1910 .. 9,919 1,201 140 1925 .. 33,802 1873 267 1911 •• J 10,905 986 148 , 1926 .. j 35,844 2 042 29^ 1912 .. J 12,097 1,192 178 ! 1927 .. 37,808 1,964 255 1913 .. J 13,552 1,455 183 ij 1928 .. 39,409 1,601 276 1914 •• I 15,302 1,750 230 , 1929 .. 40,852 1443 208 1915 .. J 16,682 1,380 270 ! 1930 . 42,371 1,519 239 1916 .. I 18,134 1,452 218 ! : 1931 .. 43,973 1,602 257 1917 .. ] 19,508 1,374 166 1932 .. 45,692 1,719 215 1918 .. 20,982 1,474 132 1933 .. 47,306 1,614 213