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1946 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 op Police to the Right Hon. the Minister in Charge of Police Department Wellington, 18th July, 1946. I have the honour to present the annual report on the Police Force for the year ended 31st March last. Personnel. —On 31st. March last the number of members of the Force of all ranks was 1,475, being a decrease of 90 during the year. The total is made up as follows: 5 Superintendents, 19 Inspectors, 10 Sub-Inspectors, 45 senior sergeants, 129 sergeants, 793 constables, 371 temporary constables, 12 senior detectives, 31 detective-sergeants, and 60 detectives. There were also 1 district constable, 29 women police, 7 matrons, and 14 police surgeons. The following are the losses in personnel for the year ended 31st March last: retired on pension under Public Service Superannuation Act, 20; retired medically unfit, 9; died, 5; resigned voluntarily, 98; dismissed, 13; total, 145. The position in regard to recruiting for the Police Force has improved in recent months, so much so that it has been possible to reopen the Training School, where a class of recruits is now undergoing a course of training. The removal of the restrictions in respect of wharves and shipping and the termination of other duties in connection with the war released a number of police employed thereon for ordinary police duties, and although the Force is still much below its authorized strength, the shortage has been reduced to 94 constables, as against 140 a year ago. Included in the 98 members who resigned from the Force during the year were 55 temporary constables appointed during the war period. Of the 43 permanent members who resigned, only 3 had qualified for promotion to higher rank.