THE POLICE GUIDE. 10 GEO. IV. CAP. 44. An Act for improving the Police in and near [19th June, 1829.] the Metropolis. WHEREAS offences against property have of late increased in and near the metropolis; and the local establishments of nightly watch and nightly police have been found inadequate to the prevention and detection of crime, by reason of the frequent unfitness of the individuals employed, the insufficiency of their number, the limited sphere of their authority, and their want of connection and co-operation with each other: And whereas it is expedient to substitute a new and more efficient system of police in lieu of such establishments of nightly watch and nighly police, within the limits herein-after mentioned, and to constitute an office of police, which, acting under the immediate authority of one of his Majesty's principal secretaries of state, shall direct and control the whole of such new system of police within B may establish office for the metropolis and the sur appoint two persons as justices, to business of the office, under the di secretary of state. those limits: Be it therefore enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and His Majesty by the authority of the same, That it shall be lawful a new police for his majesty to cause a new police office to be established in the city of Westminster, and by warrounding dis- rant under his sign manual to appoint two fit pertrict, and may sons as justices of the peace of the counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Hertford, Essex, and Kent, and of conduct the all liberties therein, to execute the duties of a justice of the peace at the said office, and in all parts of rections of a those several counties, and the liberties therein, together with such other duties as shall be hereinafter specified, or as shall be from time to time directed by one of his Majesty's principal secretaries of state, for the more efficient administration of the police within the limits herein-after mentioned; and his Majesty may remove either of the said justices, if he shall see occasion so to do, and may, upon any vacancy in the said office by death, removal, or otherwise, appoint another fit person as a justice of the peace of the counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Hertford, Essex, and Kent, and of all liberties therein, to execute the duties aforesaid in lieu of the person making such vacancy; and it shall be lawful for his Majesty to appoint any person to be a justice of the peace by virtue of this Act, and for such person, during the continuance of his appointment, to execute the duties of a justice of the peace for the several counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Hertford, The justices Essex, and Kent, and for all liberties therein, al need not have any qualifica- though he may not have any such qualification by tion of estate. estate as is required by law in the case of any other person being a justice of the peace for any county: Provided always, that no such person shall act as a Proviso. justice of the peace at any court of general or quarter sessions, nor in any matter out of sessions, except for the preservation of the peace, the prevention of crimes, the detection and committal of offenders, and in carrying into execution the purposes of this Act (a). Oath to be justices. 2. And be it enacted, That every person to be appointed a justice of the peace by virtue of this taken by the Act shall, before he shall begin to execute the duties of his office, take the following oath before some justice or baron of one of his Majesty's courts of record at Westminster; (that is to say,) (a) Any person acquainted with the state of the metropolis at the date of this Act, will readily assent to the accuracy of the recital in the preamble, and to the necessity for legislative interference on the subject of the police. Great prejudice existed against the force at their establishment in 1829; but it is evident that many persons, who were the most powerful assailants of the police regulations, have long since become convinced of the importance and value of the present improved system. The expense of the police has been urged with great weight against the establishment or any further extension of it; and it cannot be denied that in times of great privation and distress among mankind in general, that this objection is fairly entitled to consideration. Regard however must be had, in considering this point, how much the police district is saved in prosecutions and other incidental expenses, by the prevention of crime. If the certainty of detection by the vigilance of the police, tend, as doubtless it must, to check and prevent crime, then it is only just to set off against the expense of the police, the saving to the country in the costs of prosecutions and in the maintenance of felons and other offenders. Salary of the justices. Westminster 'I, A. B. do swear, That I will faithfully, impar'tially, and honestly, according to the best of my 'skill and knowledge, execute all the powers and ' duties of a justice of the peace, under and by virtue ' of an Act passed in the tenth year of the reign of King George the Fourth, intituled An Act for im'proving the Police in and near the Metropolis.' 3. And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for his Majesty to direct that an annual salary, not exceeding the sum of eight hundred pounds, shail be paid out of the consolidated fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to each of the justices to be appointed under this Act, and that the same shall be payable quarterly (b). 4. And be it enacted, That the whole of the city and liberties of Westminster, and such of the parishes, townships, precincts, and places in the counone district, ties of Middlesex, Surrey, and Kent, as are enume Kent, to be formed into to be called for the whole "The Metro- rated in the schedule to this Act, shall be constituted, politan Police District." for the purposes of this Act, into one district, to be A police force called "The Metropolitan District;" and a sufficient district to be number of fit and able men shall, from time to time, appointed. by the directions of one of his Majesty's principal secretaries of state, be appointed as a police force for the whole of such district, who shall be sworn in by one of the said justices to act as constables for (b) The salary of 800l. per annum, directed to be paid to each of the magistrates appointed under this Act, has since been augmented to 1200l. per ann. by the 2 & 3 Vict. c. 71, s. 9, post. The receiver is to be paid 1000l., the chief clerk in each court 5001. and the second clerk 3001. |