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PUBLIC ORDER
degree of violence in the perpetration of the offence. It is disturbing to note that people under the age of 21 were responsible for participat- ing in a high proportion of these crimes of violence.
During 1967 there was an overall increase of 1,253 cases of serious crime, which is 5.8 per cent above 1966. The detection rate fell from 73.6 per cent to 67.8 per cent. Juvenile crime-offences by people under 16 years of age-also increased by 80 cases, or 5.5 per cent. However, annual increases are to be expected as the number of people between the age of eight years and 16 increases with the growth in the population of the Colony. The government and the police force are aware of the problem of young people, and are endeavouring to provide facilities and guidance for them.
The chronic problem of narcotics still exists despite all the efforts of the organizations involved in a constant battle against this evil. Several large seizures were made, including one in March amounting to one-and-a-quarter tons of raw opium and morphine. In September two manufacturing laboratories making heroin were discovered, large amounts of the drug were seized and arrests were made.
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TRAFFIC
On June 9 the Commissioner for Transport assumed statutory responsibility for the licensing and registration of vehicles, the licensing of drivers, and also for certain functions in relation to the public transport services, relieving the Commissioner of Police of these tasks. The traffic branch continues to be concerned with traffic control and law enforcement and with the Road Safety Association.
Traffic patrol motor cycles were fitted with radio sets following the successful experiment with the system in 1966. Radio communica- tion has greatly increased the efficiency of these patrols which are able to report back on traffic conditions and seek assistance without returning to headquarters. A number of traffic diversion teams were organized to deal with traffic snarls arising from bombs planted in public thoroughfares.
The Road Safety Association, in co-operation with other in- terested bodies, continued to promote road safety. The School Safety Patrol Organization was expanded and during the year a