109
STRENGTH OF THE FORCE.
8. The average strength of the Police Force during the year 1895 has been 558, its greatest strength, in February, 590, and its least in August 535. In December it was 541. Exclusive of men on leave, the European force has been on an average 6 men short, and the Indian contingent 40. In December the latter was 53 below strength and the Europeatis 7; the total of all ranks being 541. To endeavour to some extent to supplement the Indians 30 temporary Chinese Constables were engaged, but the substitute has been a very feeble one.
Several Europeans were engaged locally, but save for the Water Police the practice is not fruitful
of success.
The men are not trained Constables (whereas the recruits from the United Kingdom are).
During their probationary period they are merely learners not available for street duty and frequently at the expiration of the three months they have found more suitable or remunerative employment. One result of the failure to recruit Indians has been that they have had no leave and it has been not unnaturally a source of considerable dissatisfaction, several good men having resigned. 10 Europeans from the Metropolitan Police Force arrived in March last and have given every satisfaction.
One man committed suicide by cutting his throat a fortnight after arrival.
In connection with the reduction of the Police Force, a table is attached hereto, showing the ratio of increase in certain towns in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Shanghai compiled from returns received last year, from which it will be seen that Hongkong is the only place that reduces its Police as the population increases, nor does the situation of the Colony, the mixed character of its population and Police Force appear to place it in any more favourable position for adopting such a course than the other places in the table below :-
STRENGTH:
INCREASE IN 20 YEARS.
Town.
RATIO OF POPULA-
TION PER
REMARKS.
Inhabit- CONST-
1874
1894
Houses. Streets. Lamps: ants.
ABLE.
No. Miles. No.
London,
9,958 15,216 314,724
839
1,991,894
378
Police rate 9d. in the £.
Brighton,......
101
175
8,767 18 miles 765
23,402
662
Bristol,
357
398
9 acres
39,026
563
New St.
Dublin,
1,145
Edinburgh,
355
514
9,711 15,609
199 40 miles
307
Forcé raised in ratio of 32 per 10,000.
.3,000
64,952
526
Glasgow.....
951
1,355
513
Guildford,
403
601
...
Leeds,
315
450
Liverpool, ....
1,097
1,694
29,136 160 miles 18,456 26
3,225 8,976
136,145
302
County Police Force raised in ratio of
10 per 10,000.
28,440
311
13
Plymouth,
83
118
20,000
745
Portsmouth,
113
194
Hongkong, ...
626
587
2,262 38 miles
Shanghai,....
189
485
16,588 | 16
-235 175
"
Singapore,
514
920
111 sts.
881 Force raised in ratio of 13 per 10,000. 119,437 426 148,344 506
87,443
200
* In 1874 cost $10,428.04. In 1894
cost $34,313.29.
AMERICAN CITIES.
Comparative statement of Police Force of nine principal cities as shown by latest reports.
City.
Number of Inhabitants to each Officer.
New York, Chicago,
Philadelphia,
Brooklyn,
St. Louis...
Boston,
Baltimore,
San Francisco,.. Cincinatti,
351
354
467
468
572
433
526
618
613