February Police Report: 277 Casualties, 61 Deaths During the Month The diffeult conditions of police work in the Settlement during Feb-the Com-report issued on ly, the Commissioner reveals that during the period between January 2B and March 1 two aerial bombs and 312 projectiles are known to have fallen in the Settlement and, together with stray she possible for, damage to lidings and caused 277 of which 61, proved fatal, The Cotnmissioner's report There was a total decrease of 705 eases as compared with the figures recorded last month and a decrease of 402 cases as compared with those, for the corresponding Period of Inst. year. 857 persons were arrested for crimes committed during the month, 23. for offences committed previously and 62. for other authorities, a to of 651 as compared with the nui ber apprehended last, month,
of crimes recorded, explained by the large decrease Comparison of the crime returns for February with those of the preceding month or of the ponding period in 1931. is Value and, beyond show! effects of "the local situation on police" districts which have been able to function in the military lines of the defence perimeter to pass freely and these proved or great value to both Chi nese and foreigners in the evacuation of their property during the general exodus from the northern area at the commencement of the state of emergency and since. 755 Emergency passes had been issued up to the end of the month.
Five cases of murder were recorded during the month, and six cases of attempted murder.
Two cases of manslaughter were recorded, both of whic! occurred and were the result in which the in-
One case of armed kidnapping occurred in Sinza, District, when '4 Chinese, employed by a trust com. pany, was held up and kidnapped by ah armed gang whilst proceeding In a private riesha along Bur-ill Road, 79 cases of armed robbery were reported, 11 more than last' month and 15 more than during the corresponding period of fast year. Two cases were found on investigation to be false.
House-breaking, office, shop, compared with {ast month there is a decrease of 19 eases and ar decrease of 4 eases on the figures for February, 1981. sion, for a considerable portion of the month, was. practically impossi-bie, although strenuous efforts were made by the staff to investigate reported cases or matters. which ame to their notice in a variety of ways, period of two weeks Chinese detectives were unable to venture on the streets alone and the forcipn staff was unable to cope efficiently with the multifarious duties and enquiries the peculiar state of 30 in the division. To Assist in investigations and to provide a place accessible to the public Dutside" the more rigorously" "oecupied"" "area" a temporary sub-Station was opened in teashop at: No. 2744 Seward Road on February B and remained open until March 5. took place. in both Hongkew and Considerable looting undoubtedly
Dixwall Road districts. during the ime the police were unable to fun tion normally and itis likely that Reports of stolen property for March will reach enormous figures. nal Detective Ofer Division also reports consider able looting on the Northern boundty. of his Division and partic Jy' in the evacuated area outside the Settlement which was left un-refected by the, Public Safety urea and unguarded by the Japanese defence forces. Special patrols had been placed on. the ders and, where necessary, th extended" their acti tot Small villages in were known to harbour loafers Hooters: "Many, encounters' the police and these gangs occurred and many arrests have been made. During' the period February 9 to March. 5 the evacuation of Dixwell Road Police Station. necessitated en-miries from Hongkew Station to which: place all. staff and record Wore, temporarily transferred, "A"
"B" Divisions, while not affect-in the same manner as "C" and Divisions also show an increase in armed robberies. - This is probably accounted for by the inflex to Those Divisions of criminals fleeing from the northern area of the Settlement. "The general decrease other forms of oxime is, no doubt, due to the restrictions of the eu to the difficulty of ing the Settlement, the closure of shops, including pawnshops, and to the. general neglect of the public in reporting eases during the unusual excitement prevailing, The largo influx of refugees and wounded soldiers. does not appear to have caused any. excessive Amount of crime during the month, Dut it is still too early to comment.
spect of the situation. The five cases of murder recorded do Tot take cognizance of the large number of persons reported miss-ince January 28 from Hong. and of these will never be known.
"The curfew order came into force! on February 1 and was. still. in effect at the end of the month. This order relieved the detective stalfs of police stations of much anxiety Between 10pm. and 4 am. and practically no crime ocearred be. ween these hours, At the end of the month "approximately " 6,326 curfew passes had been issued.
system of emergency passes was inaugurated to enable persons Fesident or having business outside:
Burglary.—A total decrease of 60.
recorded. There was a decrease of 369 theft cases as compared with the figures recorded last month and a decrease of 169 cases for the corresponding period of 1931.
Thirty-six eases of pocket-picking occurred and 23° arrests. were effected. 19 bicycles were stolen, showing a marked decrease (66) on January figure. There is a de-
with 68 snatching cases as com-aerial bombs and wre_known to have tra settlement roads—between january 25 and March 1. " These explosive missiles and stray bullets recounted for damage to about 262 buildings and 277" casualties, of Which 61 proved fatal, The figures quoted do not. include the peop! Killed and injured and the destruction wrought on the extra-Settle-rent "Municipal roads in the Dixwell Road District as the compute Vion, of damage to life and. property in that area has not yet been completed.
Loss of Employment by Industrial Workers——As a result of the onfligt Toeal industrial concerns closed down one after another during the early part of. the month.
February' 10 the number of persons reduced to idleness had reach-approximately 162,000. It was, moreover, estimated that the dependents of' these numbered 324,000 making " total of 486,000 people who were deprived of means of sub-
obtain from industrial labour. Sistence which they, would normally change for the better took place about February 10 and at the end of the month it was reckoned that 52 of the enterprises which closed had reopened and that some 40,000 of the workless had resumed their former occupations. A. number of the "unemployed their dope dents went to relatives in the interior and others entered the camps established for refugees Accidents—Aceidents coming under police notice daring the months february 1982 and February Persons killed or injured in accidents during Febraary 1932 and known to have been at fault:—Killed 11, Injured 79.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.