59 increase of crime and lawlessness throughout the country with which the already insufficient and still further depleted police force were unable adequately to cope.

40. Public Security.

The increase in crime from 1914-1918 amounted to about 19 per cent., which, in the circumstances, was perhaps not excessive. In 1919, however, there occurred the alarming increase of 64 per cent, over the preceding year. The chief cause of this increase was undoubtedly the trouble which took place in the spring of 1919. In March, April and May of 1919 the increase in crime over the same months of the preceding year was 52 per cent., 75 per cent., and 96 per cent, respectively. The latest figures available are those for February 1920, when the total number of crimes was 647, an increase of 25 per cent, over the same period last year (1919).

The police force in the provinces suffered considerably in prestige during the disorders, and it is to be feared that some time will be required before they have regained their influence in the public estimation. Other contributory causes to the increase of crime undoubtedly are the general influence of war and the very high cost of living.

The reorganisation of the provincial police has been the subject of a special enquiry carried out during the last few months, and a report on the whole question has been drawn up and submitted to the Ministry. It is hoped gradually to develop some of the suggestions made therein. A reorganisation has already been carried out in the department at the Ministry. The creation of a Criminal Investigation Bureau in confidently expected to lead to good results. The most important of the other reforms which have been, or which are to be, carried out are : A reform of the Police Cadet School curriculum and of the system of training police ofiicers; a decentralisation of police work in the provinces and the establishment of a clearer definition between administrative and executive functions; the creation of a number of small police posts; certain reforms in respect of the reeruitment, pay and conditions of service of ghafirs and the creation of a special Railway Police Force.

A commission is being appointed to deal with the questions of child vagrancy and child labour in Egypt, a subfect to which I shall revert in the following seetion.

Since 1913 the provincial police have been increased by 19 officers and 1,018 men, and in the same period the numbers of the “ Nizam ” ghafir force have risen from 83,000 to 45,000. The following table shows the number of crimes reported to the police monthly during 1918 and 1919 :— Murder. Attempted Thefts with Murder. Violence.

Attempted Theft with Violence.

1918. 1919. 1918. 1919. 1918. 1919 t1918. 1919.

Other Crimes. Total.

1918. 1919. 1918. 1919.

January February March April May June July August Septemboi October _ November December Total 45 58 79 72 88 77 102 80 72 73 45 44 835 47 58 130 149 122 106 164 117 109 106 101 93 1,302.

48 55 56 62 77 90 101 90 62 70 61 51 823 69 61 102 170 135 154 159 138 126 143 84 82 1,423 72 72 64 75 60 58 91 87 69 83 63 71 865 88 94 178 207 203 210 186 159 127 135 143 145 1,875 17 11 16 13 0 9 17 16 10 G 11 14 146 11 13 20 44 26 31 27 30 24 23 23 180 196 233 235 203 184 152 126 100 107 117 24 I 132 296 1,965 155 211 251 231. 366 258 282 230 161 174 164 241 2,724 362 392 448 457 434 418 463 399 313 339 297 812 4,634 370 437 681 801 852 759 818 674 547 581 515 585 7,620 [3437 y—2]' 1 2 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.