The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1904-02-03 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

YEAR'S CRIME. CHIEF CONSTABLE'S ANNUAL  REPORT:  The report of the Chief-Constable of Birkenhead (Mr. W. S. Davies) upon the police establishment end criminal statistics of the borough for the twelve months ending December Het last has just been issued. The return of indictable offences shows that the number of crimes committed is 630, an increase of 52 on last year'e return. The increase is principally in larceuv simple shopbrealtiog. etc. (18), obtaining goods y false pretences (9), and attempted suicide (8). Against these figures there is a decrease in housebreaking (2). forgery and uttering , (5). embezzlement (13), and receiving (3). In 484 cases out of the 630, offenders were brought to justice. Non-indictable offences show an increase of 493, vie., from 3,141 offences lest year to 13,631 this year. The increase is accounted for by 67 more prosecutions for assault common, 77 more prosecutions under the Elementary Education Acts, 949 more fcr drunkenneee, and 31 more for assaults on police, the remainder being spread over the various other headings generally,. It is impossible to account for the large increase in cases of drunkenness (says the Chief-Constable), except by the facts that the police have displayed more activity in the matter, and of the persons dealt with for this offence no lees than 151 were non-residents of the borough.  There is a decrease of 11 in the number of male juvenile offenders dealt with. In 16 case, the offenders were dealt with under the Probation of First Offenders' Act, and subsequently discharged. There was an increase of 374 in the %umber of persons locked up in the various bridewells during the yea'. A further return shows the number of cases dealt with on informations within the borough, there being an inoresee of 87. Of the 1,464 informations laid, 145 were dsmissed. Seven informations were laid against licensed victuallers and 17 against beerhouse keepers for offences against the Licensing Act. Fifteen resulted in oonvie• hone, 8 were demisted, and 1 withdrawn. The number of persons proceeded against , for drunkenness was 1,119, and 910 were convicted (an increase of 287), 201 dismissed, and 8 withdrawn. The total of 1,119 included 730 melee and 389 females.  The return of premises found insecure shows a decrease of 1,957 cases, the total having beau 5,518, compared with 7,470 in 1902, and 11,105 in 1901. As the Chief-Constab:e points out, neglect in this very essential matter offers facilities to thieves and other ill-disposed persona. His figures show that householders have been much more I oareful than in the previous year in geeing that their property was made secure. Special arrangements were made for the careful watching of houses during the absence of owners, 1,157 houses having thus come under extra police supervision during the year, and the Chief-Constable would be glad it more householden availed themselves of these arrangements by notifying to him the fact of their houses being unoccupied. Three hundred and sixty-eight persons, having been found ill or suffering from injury, were aeeisted to their homes or to in. stitutions.  The strength of the farce is 191, of whom 106 are qualified to render "First Aid," 120 holding medallions from the St. Joh* Arm balance Association, 11 having been reexamined, end 29 holding certificates. A clam has been formed for those not already instructed. The conduct of the police (says Mr. Davis.) has been good an the whole. During the year there had been 2 dismissals and 9 resignations, and 5 members of the form had been pensioned. Twenty-nine constables have been specially rewarded for acts of merit in the execution of their duty. The physique of the force is good, and the average height is sft. 101 in. There have been 1,275 days upon which constables have been absent from duty owing to sickness, 101 of which were due to men being hurt in the execution of their duty. At the 811111141 inspection the Hon. C. 421. Legge,