Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1885-08-22 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

TILE METROPOLITAN POLICE.  The Report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for the year 1884, just issued, shows that the authorised strength on the 31st of December, 1884, was 25 superintendents, 637 inspectors,lo67 sergeants, and 11,151 constables—toted 12,880. Forty-six miles of new streets and squares were handed over to police protection during the year. The number aysilable for service in the metropolis, exclusive of Royal dockyard and military stations, public departments, and private firms, was 21 superintendents, 590 inspectors, 902 sergeants, and 10,027 constables. The removals from the force during the year were 679, a percentage of 520 out of a total of 12,880 men, being nearly 50 per cent, less than it was ten years age. The voluntary resignations were only 127, being the least number yet recorded. The supply of eligible candidates was ample. Two hundred and forty-seven police officers were commended by or received pecuniary rewards from judges and magistrates, and 1095 were rewarded by the commissioner. In connection with criminal administration, one of the chief changes during the year was the modification in the construction of the Criminal Investigation Department, the office of Director of Criminal Investigations being abolished, and a third Assistant Commissioner added to the police staff. During the year the occurrence of several dynamite outrages threw a large amount of additional work on the police, and although unfortunately the perpetrators of these crimes were not at the moment discovered, much information as to some of the criminals was acquired, which the police were able to turn to account after the close of the year. With the exception of these outrages, the state of crime throughout the year may be said to have been normal and subject only to ordinary fluctuations. Between the provincial and foreign police forces and the Metropolitan Police the most friendly relations continua. The supervision of convicts under license and those sentenced to police surveillance has been carried out throughout the year with strictness, and at the same time with all possible consideration for the interest of those prisoners who try to lead an honest life. The benefit to the public of such supervision of habitual criminals is unquestionable. There were 3022 persons arrested for assaults, more or less serious, on policemen during the year ; on two occasions firearms were used—the officers showing great courage and being severely wounded, but not fatally; their assailants have been captured and sentenced to penal servitude for life. 11,203 persons were charged as drunk and disorderly, being a decrease of 2284 cases as compared with the previous year. Simple drunkenness increased from 7058 in 1883 to 7934 in 1884, while disorderly characters decreased from 4881 in 1883 to 4473 in 1884. Practically there is no striking alteration in the number of cases of drunkenness and disorder which came under the notice of the police. The average proportion per 1000 of the estimated population of persons apprehended for drunkenness and disorderly conduct from 1860 to 1870 was 5576. From 1870 to 1880 it increased to 7156, and the average for the past five years has been 5491. The proportion was 5264 in 1883, and 4883 in 1884. There was a decrease of 1513 in the number of serious offences. Larcenies, including those to the amount of £5 in a dwelling, decreased 2045; but burglaries Increased 56, from 331 in 1883 to 387 in 1884; the convictions increased from 93 to 98; and housebreakings increased 158, from 932 to 1000; the convictions increased from 58 to 84. The reported loss of property stolen during the year was £108,406, a decrease on the previous year of £7923; of the whole reported loss £21,737 was recovered, leaving the net loss £86,669. The loss on property stolen was distributed among the following offences Burglaries £2129, housebreakings £10,660, larcenies by servants and lodgers £10,694, other larcenies £36,284, embezzlements and frauds £19,138, other offences £7764. Precisely one-half of the offences of burglary and housebreaking were effected through doors and windows left open or insecure, and 1157 houses with no person in charge were entered and robbed. The number found open by the police was 27,984, being 1658 more than in the previous year. The total amount of property stolen was distributed amongst the following offences : Stolen in burglaries, £3481, or 3.2 per cent.; housebreakings, £11,272, or 104 per cent. ; larcenies, £60,791, or 5-61 per cent.; embezzlements and frauds, £21,774, or 201 per cent. ; other offences, £ll,OBB, or 10.2 per cent 14,478 children under 10 years of age and 3938 adults were reported to the police as lost or missing; 8485 children and 821 adults were found by the police. The remainder returned home or were found by their friends, except 74 adults, who committed suicide. The remaining 121 adults and eight children have never been traced. One hundred and five bodies of persons found dead and unknown were photographed, but 54 were not identified. The number of fatal accidents in the streets which came under police notice increased from 106 in 1883 to 127 in 1884, and according to the more comprehensive returns of the Registrar General from 222 in 1883 to 265 in 1884. The number of persons injured in the streets increased from 3532 to 3952. A large proportion of the sufferers are not the foot passengers in the streets, but the persons riding and driving. Proceedings were taken against 968 persons for furious riding or driving ; 883 were convicted and 85 discharged; 391 of these persons so convicted were drivers of hackney carriages. 16,283 stray dogs in the streets were seized by the police; 1694 were claimed, the rest were sent to the Dogs' Home or otherwise disposed of.