The Warrington Examiner. — 1872-11-02 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

ANNTJAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF CONSTABLE. To the Chairman of and the Watch Committee. Gentlemen,-1 beg to lay before you my sixth annual report of the Police Establishment of the Borough anl abstract of criminal returns from September 30th, 1871, to September 29th, 1872, the returns being now ready to forward to the Home Office, Loudon. The force consists of 27 persons, there being at present five vacancros, viz., Chief Constable, two inspectors, one clerk, one detecive sergeant, four police sergeants, and 18 constables. On January 4th last, the Watch Committee ordered an augmentation of four upon the then authorised strength of 28 men, and I, therefore, advertised for a few, and succeeded in completing the number of 32 on the 9il of May inst. It remained at that for only one week, since which it has gradually subsided, with slight alterations for more or less, to its present strength, wiih no application from persons seeking employment. Five me under six months service, four above six and under 12 months do., two above one year and under two years, three above two years and under three years, two above three years and under four years, four above five years and under seven years, three above seven years and under ten years, three above ten years and under 15 years, and one above 15 yeais. The resignations are 12, viz., three through ill health, three to join other forces with higher pay, five to go to former or better situations, and one being a grumbler allowed to resign. The dismissals are seven, viz., six for drunkenness, and one for producing false testimonials. The criminal returns for the year comprise 1,09 cases summarily disposed of, and 33 indictable offences, 23 of which were committals for trial, and ten discharged, of those suummarily disposed of 518 were discharged and 1,171 convicted, namely, 715 fined, and 252 sent to prison, and 204 subjealted to other punishments. Of the total .587 were for drunkenness., nearly 200 less than last year, 93 being oischarged and 491 convicted. Of the indictable ottences six persons were committed for trial on charges a murder; one being discharged, one committed suicide whilst awaiting trial, one received sentence of five years' penal servitude (all these for the murder of Owen Kelly) one _woman sentenced to detention in criminal lunatic asylum during Her Alajesty's pleasure, and two other women awaiting trial. One man was sentenced to penal servitude for life for rape. The number of felonies reported to the police during the year is 202 (179 last year) for which 117 persons were apprehended, 81 last year; of these 20 were discharged, and 64 canvicted summarily by the magistrates, the remainder were indictable, and are accounted for above. The amount of property stolen is £2BO 17s. 3d., recovered £9B 65. (d., unracovered £lB2 10s. 9d. There are 105 convicted thieves, and about 100 other known suspected persons within the 'borough, as also 29 houses of bad repute, including brothels, beerhoases, public-houses, and houses of receivers of stolen goods; there are also 32 common lodging houses, which are always more or less resorts of unknown and suspicious characters, and there are also about 300 other houses registered under the .Sanitary Act as lodgings, which, ot course, harbour a great many of the working population, who are strangers to the police. There are 86 public houses, and 49 beerhouses within the borough, seven of each having been reported for offences against the licences, and convictions ensued againsL four of the former and five of the latter. Inquests have been held on 39 out of 47 persons reported to have died unnatural deaths, 8 being referred to the registrar. 146 police and other warrants have been executed; 97 pedlars' certificates have been granted, and 291 endorsed, for which I have received the sum of £3O 175.; this has been remitted quarterly to the County Treasurer, subject to certain ueductiuns which are elsewhere accounted for. The tramps who received tickets of admission to vagrant wards of Warrington Union. Workhouse, from P.S. James, assistant relieving officer, since his appointment irs January last, num her 5000; this matter, however, is not strictly within the scope of the present returns, being additional to the officers police duties. From 60,000 to 70,000 tramps in addition to the above, annually pass through the borough, sleeping one or more nights at lodging houses for such. Re• ferring to the police returns, you will observe that at • the present moment there are five vacancies, and that for a considerable time the force has been declining in numbers, which I can only account for by the prosperity of all traces throughout the country, and the superior inducements held out to men to join 'neighbouring police forces. In most cases where coustables are reported for misconduct, they have arisen amongst the newest arrivals, and are not excessive. 1 have been requestea by Captain Elgee, H.M. inspector of police forces, to forward him similar retures to these, and to inform him what steps have been taken by the local authorities to secure a site for a police station and lock-up, and the probable time such buildings will be commenced. With regard to the crinilual returns, I am glad to say that with an increasing p pulation, a diminution of crime is evident, there being about 100 cases less this than last year. If it is considered, however, that fur murders have taken place, and a shocking case of rape (a man upon his daughter) its. enormity-is greater than ever, it is satisfactory, however, that all the offenders in these particular cases have been apprehended. Robbery is a little on the increase, but am of opinion that if the force could be completed in eauribei,, and kept up, a great many robberies would be prevented, and many more traced to the perpetrators. lam pleased to say that there are 200 cases of drunkenness less this year than last year, which I attribute in part to tbe extra watchfulness of the retailers of drink. Since August 10th a decrease has taken place in number for this offence, which probably is owing to the new Liceus_ sing Act having come into operation on that date; the number is 142 against 162 up to October 21st both years. I believe the action taken by the Licensing Committee with regard to the hours of opening and closing public-homes and beer-houses, has given general satisfaction to the pulslic and the publicans. I consider it wise to allow these houses open until ten on Sundays instead of nine p.m., as in some other places the latter is a time which most people consider too early to retire to bed, and would probably be devoted to drinking at home by those frequenting public-homes, and wLo would supply themselves with Liquor iii bottles, jugs, cans, and other vessels, and rasp duote 4 tooget atop to titto4os Oau II BOW