282 Proceedings of the British Association. 



and another class who (although employed, and in the receipt of 

 good wages) are in the habit of committing, or attempting to commit, 

 felonies after their hours of labour ; there can be no doubt that the 

 decrease in the number of apprehensions is not to be altogether attri- 

 buted to the state of trade, but must be partly ascribed to the in- 

 creased efficiency of the police, which has tended in a great measure 

 to prevent the commission of crime. As respects the summary con- 

 victions in the year 1843, out of 12,147 apprehensions, there were 

 2,981 summary convictions and 758 committals for trial ; whilst in 

 1844, out of 10,702 apprehensions there were 3,961 summary con- 

 victions and 691 committals for trial ; or an actual increase in the 

 past year of nearly 1,000 convictions, although the number of appre- 

 hensions has been less by 1,445 individuals. The increase in the 

 number of summary convictions may, in a measure, be attributed to 

 the provisions contained in the New Police Act, which came into 

 operation on the 4th of July 1844, which enables the Justices to 

 punish by fine or imprisonment parties found drunk in the streets, 

 and which power has been frequently exercised. The number of ap- 

 prehensions for drunkenness is 4,156, (being 42 less than in the pre- 

 vious year,) and from the persons of this class the sum of 1,392/. 

 10s. 10c?. has been taken and restored when discharged. The return 

 also shows, that out of a gross amount of 7,658/. 6s. lid. reported to 

 have been stolen during the year, the sum of 3,040/. 14s. 3c?. has 

 been recovered by the police ; and that out of a sum amounting to 

 1,801/. 8s. Id. reported to have been accidentally lost, the police 

 have been instrumental in recovering 1,126/. 6s. 3d. The only 

 other table which it may be necessary to notice is that which shows 

 that during the past year 2,798 premises have been found open and 

 insecure by the police during the night; of this number, 1,433 

 consisted of warehouses and shops, containing property, in which 

 no parties resided, or were left in charge ; 649 of houses, shops, 

 and warehouses, containing property, and in which parties did 

 reside ; and 538 of empty houses. The same table also shows that 

 the police have, during the past year, restored to their friends 2,637 

 children found apparently lost in the streets. 



