Police.

POLICE. No. 6-1894.

Rules and Regulations relative to the Gold Coast Police (s. 18).*

I. DISTRIBUTION OF FORCE.

1. The Gold Coast Police Force shall be distributed throughout the Colony as follows:

provided that it shall be in the discretion of the Commissioner, subject to the Orders of the Governor, to vary the distribution in case of need. 2. Detachments at outstations are to be relieved every twelve (12) months.

II. PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.

3. Promotions and appointments of members of the force below the rank of superintendent shall be made by order of the Commissioner only, who will make selection in all cases from the rank next below that to which the promotion is made. The Commissioner may, however, recommend to the Governor specially deserving officers for promotion to a higher grade than that next above the one in which they are serving.

*For pay regulations made by the Commissioner of Police, see Gazettes for 1898, p. 190.

4. When any member of the force is recommended for promotion, Police. the superintendent will submit the necessary particulars on Police No. 6 of 1894. Form, No. 22, and attach the record of service of the member selected. Rules and regulations.

III. DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

5. Officers are at all times accountable for the maintenance of good order and the rules and discipline of the force, and they are to afford in these respects the utmost aid and support to the Commissioner.

6. It is their duty to take notice of, repress and instantly report any negligence or impropriety of conduct of any member of the force whether on duty or off duty.

7. Officers at outstations are not to introduce or adopt any system of punishment for minor offences at variance with that established in accordance with these regulations at headquarters.

8. Officers on duty must wear the prescribed uniform.

9. Officers commanding outstations will see that all orders relative to the force are complied with in every particular, and are not to permit the slightest deviation therefrom, either in respect of dress, forms, returns, passes, &c. Forms authorized by the Commissioner are to be always adhered to.

IV. POLICE TO REPORT THEMSELVES.

10. All members of the force are to report themselves personally to the Commissioner on returning from leave or outstations.

V. SUPERINTENDENTS.

11. The senior superintendent shall be at the head of the superintendents, sergeants, and constables of the force. His position being of the greatest importance and responsibility, he will be addressed on all duties by the members of the force with respect, and when he speaks to them on duty they must stand to attention.

12. He will assist the senior officers of the force in all duties and be present at office every morning.

13. He will be most particular in seeing that all members of the force under him are dressed properly, and never overlook any irregularity in this respect.

14. He must always consider himself on duty.

15. He will check the use of improper language on the part of any member of the force.

16. He must be able to give instructions to the sergeants and constables on all points relating to their duty, and will use proper and conciliatory language when addressing them.

17. He is responsible that all orders given from time to time are promptly and strictly obeyed by his subordinates.

18. Every superintendent is responsible for the general conduct and good order of the sergeants, and constables under him. He will by constant personal intercourse with them make himself well acquainted with the ability and character of each individual. He is immediately to report to his senior officer, any neglect of duty, or

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any circumstances which he observes in the conduct of the sergeants No. 6 of 1894. and constables requiring notice.

Rules and regulations.

19. A superintendent is always to inspect police returning from out duties, and report to the senior officer in charge that he has done so. Any papers brought by them are to be sent to the office without delay.

20. Superintendents are to see that police prisoners, witnesses, &c., are at the office at the proper time, and dressed according to orders.

VI. SERGEANTS.

21. A sergeant is held responsible for the general conduct and good order of the constables under his charge, and he is expected to know the character of each.

22. He is to report every case of misconduct on the part of constables to the superintendant at the earliest opportunity; but he is not to take any undue advantage of the constables, by hiding himself or endeavouring to entrap them into the commission of offences. 23. He is to instruct them in the duties they have to perform, and so conduct himself as to secure the respect of those over whom he is placed.

24. If any crime or disturbance occur, he is to send for such assistance as may be necessary from the station.

25. He is to give all assistance in his power to persons applying to

him.

26. Sergeants are not to have dealings or money transactions of any kind with constables.

27. Sergeants must make themselves well acquainted with their police duties, they should perform their duties strictly, give their orders in a clear and concise manner, and on no account enter into arguments with the constables under them.

28. They should be always particularly well dressed, and smart in appearance, and in all respects patterns to the constables.

29. They should report, to the superintendent, any man they see misconducting himself or improperly dressed.

30. Sergeants having, when on detached duties, great opportunities of showing their abilities, should on these occasions take a special pride in the appearance and good conduct of the constables under them.

VII. CONSTABLES.

31. Constables of the Gold Coast Police should take a pride in belonging to the force, and ought at all times to do it credit by their conduct and behaviour; they should be clean and keep their accoutrements in proper order.

32. Constables are not to lend each other their appointments or clothing, and they must on no account alter them in any way.

33. A constable must readily and strictly obey the orders of his superiors in rank in the police.

34. Constables are on no account to take money or bribes from any person.

35. A constable is to report to his sergeant or superintendent, the

first time he sees either of them in the street or at the station, the particulars of any occurrence which has come under his notice.

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No. 6 of 1894.

36. He is to speak the truth at all times and under all circum- Rules and stances, and when called upon to give evidence, to state all he knows regulations. respecting the case without fear, and without any desire to influence either for or against a prisoner. Untruthfulness is the gravest disqualification for the police service.

37. If a constable is called upon to act, he must do so with energy, promptness, and determination; if he wavers or doubts the person may escape, and the opportunity to render assistance may be lost.

38. A constable, when called upon to take a person into custody, must be guided in a great measure by the circumstances of the case, and the nature of the charge or offence: but if he has any doubt as to how he ought to act, the safest course is to ask all the persons concerned to go with him to the station, where the superintendent will hear and determine whether the charge is to be entered or not, and the responsibility is taken off the constable.

VIII. ALARM OF FIRE.

39. In the event of any unusual appearance of fire or light an immediate alarm is to be given at the police station.

IX. SALUTING.

40. The police of all ranks when in uniform are to salute his Excellency the Governor.

41. Superintendents, sergeants, and constables are to salute when passing or addressing the Commissioner, Assistant-Commissioners, and Sub-Assistant-Commissioners.

42. Sergeants and constables are to salute when passing or addressing a superintendent, but if the nature of the duty or other special circumstances make it undesirable to salute, it is not to be done.

43. The police are not to salute, but stand to attention only, when on parade or posted in line on public occasions.

44. When police marching on duty meet a superior officer they are to receive the command "Eyes right" or "Eyes left," as the case may be, but never salute.

45. The salute is to be made according to the mode approved in the drill regulations.

46. The salute is to be acknowledged and returned by the superior officer.

47. Any of the police neglecting or disobeying the above orders are to be reported.

48. When the Commissioner, Assistant-Commissioner, or SubAssistant-Commissioner enters any room at a police station, the police in the room are to stand up to attention. The first man who perceives the Commissioner, Assistant-Commissioner, Sub-AssistantCommissioner, is to give notice to the others by calling “attention."

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Rules and regulations.

X. PUNISHMENTS.

49. For the offences herein below set out and marked (d), (e), (f), and (g), the following punishments may be inflicted :—

(a) For the first offence, a fine not exceeding 2s. 6d. to be deducted from the offender's pay.

(b) For the second offence, a fine not exceeding 5s. to be deducted from the offender's pay.

(c) For any subsequent offence, a fine not exceeding 10s. to be deducted from the offender's pay, with or without imprisonment not exceeding ten days, and with or without reduction in rank.

OFFENCES.

(d) Disobeying the lawful order of his superior officer;
(e) Absence from duty without leave;

(f) Sleeping on beat, or leaving beat before being regularly re-
lieved, except in fresh pursuit of an offender whom he ought
to apprehend;

(g) Being guilty of any act, conduct, disorder, or neglect to the prejudice of the good order and discipline of the force.

50. Any member of the police force above the rank of 1st class constable will, for the offence of drunkenness, be dealt with by the Commissioner only, and may be reduced in rank.

51. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class constables shall for the offence of drunkenness, be punished as follows:

(a) For the first offence a fine not exceeding 2s. 6d., to be stopped from the offender's pay;

(b) For the second offence a fine not exceeding 5s., to be stopped from the offender's pay;

(c) For the third offence a fine not exceeding 10s., to be stopped from the offender's pay;

(d) For any offence of drunkenness a constable may be reduced to a lower class or grade in addition to a fine.

52. When an act of drunkenness is accompanied by any other offence, the offender may be sentenced to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding ten days in addition to the fine.

53. In no case is any member of the force to have more than a third of his weekly pay stopped at a time. Fines and stoppages are to be spread over a period of time to enable this to be done.

54. The fines inflicted on police are to be read from the Police Orders to the constables when they parade for duty.

55. All fines and punishments are to be entered in the Police Defaulters' Book and published in Police Orders.

56. Defaulters are not to be required to undergo any portion of their punishment which may have lapsed by reason of their being in hospital or employed on duty.

57. If any member of the force sells, loses by neglect or wilfully spoils his accoutrements, clothing or necessaries, he may in addition to any other punishment be ordered to make good the amount, or damage, to be recovered by stoppages out of the offender's pay.