Police-1964-1965 — Page 37

Ballistics Office

150. This office is responsible for the examination of firearms and ex- plosives used in criminal cases, and for the removal and disposal of ammunition and explosives which come into the possession of the police.

151. During the year investigations were carried out in 31 shooting cases. and 7 explosions. 34 firearms, 405 grenades and 169 explosive devices, many of which were designed for sabotage and were fitted with anti-handling features, were seized. In addition 7 firearms, 47 shells and 928 rounds of ammunition were found.

152. Expert evidence was given in 24 cases.

153. A second post of Ballistics Officer (Supernumerary) was created during the year, and this was filled by the transfer of the Police Inspector who had been attached to the Ballistics Office.

PART V

TRAFFIC

VEHICLES REGISTERED

154. The number of registered vehicles stood at 86,025 at the end of the year. 15,387 vehicles were newly registered during the year and 4,746 registrations were cancelled. This latter figure is somewhat higher than average, due to the mechanization of vehicle records, which has facilitated 'weeding-out' vehicles with long expired licences from the register. Vehicles statistics for the last 5 years are shown at Appendix 19.

DRIVING LICENCES AND DRIVING TESTS

155. The 'intermediate' driving test continued to be a successful time- saving measure whereby the more obviously incompetent candidates were eliminated more rapidly in ten-minute tests of basic car-control in enclosed areas. It was therefore retained as a permanent feature of the driving test.

156. Improved arrangements for conducting the first part of the driving test, a written examination on the Highway Code, were introduced towards the end of the year. Formerly, candidates registering for these tests were given appointments for sessions held once a month in the City Hall. Under the new arrangements, however, candidates now undergo their tests immediately after registering, in a small testing centre set up in the Traffic Licensing Office. This has further reduced delays in acquiring a driving licence.

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