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6. Most of the Inspectors, however, as well as Mr. DEANE, suggest that the force should be strengthened so as to have the day work better done and more rest given to the men. With this object, I am sanctioning a moderate addition to the Police Force, respecting which I will have the honour of addressing you in a separate despatch.
7. On my return from Japan in September, Mr. DEANE, in reply to an enquiry on the subject, informed me that the operation of the two-thirds night duty system continued to be effective in preventing crime.
8. Mr. CREAGH, the Acting Senior Police Magistrate, also attributes the improvement to the two-thirds night duty system.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY
The Right Honourable Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, Bt., M.P., Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,
&c.,
&c.
I am glad to learn that the effect of the change has been beneficial, and I await the further Despatch in which you propose to address me as to making a moderate addition to the strength of the Force.
Governor HENNESSY, C.M.G.,
&c.,
&c.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
M. E. HICKS-BEACH,
LETTER FROM THE ACTING CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE TO THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 20th July, 1880.
SIR—I have the honour to hand you reports from the Inspectors of the Police Districts on the working of the new night duty system since the last reports were submitted in letter 293 of 18th July.
2. I think there is no reason to doubt that the increased night service has had a good effect in preventing crime, and judging from the enclosed hospital returns for the last six years, the men engaged on it (Chinese and Indian Constables) do not seem to have suffered in health.
3. It is the unanimous opinion of the Inspectors that the beats are undermanned between 6 and 10 P.M., and as the 50 Indian recruits are now competent to take charge of beats, I recommend that the duties in Victoria be arranged as follows :-
Available Strength.
Total Strength of Chinese and Indians,..... Average number in Hospital,. Average number on leave, ............10
Duties. From 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. 6 P.M. to 10 P.M. 10 P.M. to 6 A.M. Total, 20 45 96 161 Available Strength, 161By this plan 25 extra men will be available from 6 to 10 P.M., and the night duty as fixed by C.S.O. No.1826 of 1879 will be strengthened by 24 men. This arrangement would be, of course, provisional, as circumstances may arise which would render it necessary to change the relative strength of the duties for a time.
I have, &c.,
C. V. CREAGH, Actg. Captain Superintendent of Police.
REPORT OF ACTING CHIEF INSPECTOR GREY.
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, 5th July, 1880.
SIR—In accordance with your order of the 1st instant calling for a further report on the regular duties of the Force and the two-thirds system, I have the honour to report that on the 8th of July, 1879, the two-thirds system was slightly modified in the Central District, the number of Indians and Chinese for duty at night having been fixed at seventy-two. This arrangement allowed a few more men for day work, and it evidently worked well, for a stop was soon put to larcenies from the houses.
In December last the Force was strengthened by filling up the vacancies of men who were employed by other Departments. This increase was so material, that when all the vacancies were filled, it would allow not only sufficient men for the day, but for some more to be placed on night duty, and bring back the working almost to the same basis as the two-thirds system.
EXTRACT FROM PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, 6TH NOVEMBER, 1879.
The GOVERNOR said: The question of the Police Force in this Colony has engaged the attention of the Government more than once. We have had of late years two Committees or Commissions sitting upon the subject. I appointed a Committee, presided over by my lamented friend, Mr. Marsh, to investigate the question of Police and crime in the Colony. I had previously taken the responsibility, I think in August, or September, 1878, of giving instructions to Mr. DEANE, the Captain Superintendent, to strengthen the night force, and I pointed out the desirability of having the night duties of the force increased thirty-three per cent. The Committee I appointed examined Mr. DEANE, Mr. CREAGH, and a number of the Inspectors and other persons competent to give advice on the subject. No one indeed was more competent than the Chairman himself to form an opinion upon it. They arrived at the conclusion that the two-thirds night system, as it is called, should be tried, and that the system would probably tend to diminish crime, for they expressed a decided opinion that the Colony was not adequately policed at night time. Well, that report was laid before Her Majesty's Government, and about the same time, or indeed a little before that report reached the Government, they also received from two important sections of the Community the opinions of those sections upon that very question as to the Police. Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH received a memorial addressed to him by all the leading Chinese merchants of the Community, in which, amongst other things, they expressed an opinion that the town had not been for some years adequately policed at night, and expressed a hope that he would sanction a moderate increase of the Police Force. On the other hand, a resolution was also laid before Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH in which some of the European section of the Community took a different view, and thought no change was necessary in the Police arrangements of the Colony. Well, that point has been considered carefully by the Secretary of State, and he has conveyed to me the decision that he entirely approves of the two-thirds system of night duty, and he asks me also carefully to consider the question whether some increase ought not to be made to the Police Force. Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH also points out that Mr. Marsh's Committee called attention to the fact that on one particular day in October, to which they referred, there were 6 members of the Police Force employed on what were called special duties, that is five or six at Government House, a few employed taking care of the Courts of justice, and in different parts of the Colony the Police were engaged in that way—my Honourable friend Mr. TONNOCHY had twenty in the Gaol—and in various ways 106 members of the force were diverted from what were really their proper duties. Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH directs that these Policemen should be paid for by the different departments that were using them. Accordingly, in preparing the Estimates, I have charged the various departments with these Policemen who were formerly charged to the Police vote, and requested Captain DEANE to state what increase in the force he would require, inasmuch as all the money not so required would be struck off the Police vote. Mr. DEANE in his minute expresses his views, and is content to have an increase of thirty-six men in the Police force. The sum which will be charged to the various departments amounts to $12,245. However, with certain reductions in salaries—which will be $10,680, and there is a further expenditure for the present year of something over $11,000 in connection with steam launches for the Police.
HONGKONG,
No. 152.
TO GOVERNOR J. POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G.
DOWNING STREET,
8th December, 1879.
Sir—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No.89 of the 13th October reporting the result of the change by which two-thirds of the Police Force in the Colony have been placed on duty by night.
Since the two-thirds system, and its modification to suit the Central District, has been introduced, the City of Victoria has been very free from night crimes, such as burglaries and larcenies from dwelling houses.
I have, &c.,
THOMAS GREY, Acting Chief Inspector.
C. V. CREAGH, Esq.,
Acting Captain Superintendent of Police.
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