THE INCREASE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY DURING 1977 WAS 16 PERCENT OVER 1976 FIGURES. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SEXUAL OFFENSES, EVERY MAJOR GROUP OF CRIME SHOWED CONSIDERABLE INCREASES, THE MOST NOTABLE BEING CRIMINAL DAMAGE AND BURGLARY. THE RECRUITMENT OF WOMEN CONTINUED TO SHOW A MARKED INCREASE, PARTICULARLY IN THE METROPOLITAN COUNTIES AND LARGER FORCES. WOMEN REPRESENTED 7.5 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL STRENGTH AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE EXPANSION PROGRAM FOR THE POLICE COLLEGE AT BRAMSHILL WAS NEARING COMPLETION, AND THE NUMBER OF PROMOTIONS TO THE RANKS OF SUPERINTENDENT AND INSPECTOR CONTINUED TO INCREASE. TOTAL POLICE SERVICES EXPENDITURES FOR ENGLAND AND WALES INCLUDING THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DURING 1977 AMOUNTED TO 989.44 MILLION COMPARED WITH 820.5 MILLION THE PREVIOUS YEAR. REGIONAL CRIME SQUADS WERE PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL IN 1977, SHOWING AN INCREASE IN ARRESTS OF OVER 10 PERCENT AND OVER 5 MILLION OF STOLEN PROPERTY RECOVERED. INCREASING RECOGNITION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL BENEFITS IN CRIME PREVENTION, PARTICULARLY FOR COMMUNITY VANDALISM. IN ADDITION, MOST POLICE FORCES WERE SOMEWHAT INVOLVED WITH SCHOOLS WITH THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT VARYING FROM LECTURING ON ROAD SAFETY MATTERS TO EXTENSIVE SCHOOL LIAISON SCHEMES. ADDITIONAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS REPORT INCLUDE SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, AND COMPUTER SERVICES; TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND LEGISLATION; PREVENTIVE POLICING; PUBLIC ORDER; COMMENDATIONS AND COMPLAINTS; WELFARE ACTIVITIES; AND SPORTS. TABULAR STATISTICAL DATA AND APPENDIXES ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)