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relating mainly to friendly societies, appointing inspectors of weights and measures, district surveyors of highways, the licensing and conduct of publicans, the settlement and maintenance of the poor, the accounts of overseers, and surveyors of the highways, bastardy, vagrancy, etc. Convictions and orders of magistrates are likewise often made the subject of appeal to the quarter sessions. The Highways Act and local acts relating to canals, etc., have empowered sheriffs to empanel juries at quarter sessions for the trial of questions concerning the stopping or diverting roads, compensation for damages by widening roads, taking water from mills, etc.*

* Dickenson, Quarter Sessions.

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CHAPTER X.

COUNTY POLICE.

Constables.-Assault Committed upon. - Special Constables.

SINCE the disuse of the sheriff's tourn, the right of appointing chief constables has devolved upon the general body of the justices of the county, to be exercised in their quarter sessions. The chief constable may serve for more than one county, and appoint superintendents of divisions and petty constables, subject to the approval of the justices. The chief constable is bound to attend each quarter sessions and make quarterly reports and monthly returns of the disposition and number of the force, based on those transmitted by the superintendents of divisions.

By 5 & 6 Vict. c. 109, parishes are empowered to appoint one or more salaried constables, the allowance to be fixed by the quarter sessions, subject to the approval of the secretary of state. Justices in petty sessions assembled may grant an order on the overseers of the parish for the fees payable to the constable under the allowances settled by the quarter sessions, for the performance of any occasional duties, for which the payment is not by law charged upon the county rates. The production of the justices' order is sufficient to warrant the amount, when paid, being allowed in the overseer's accounts without further inquiry. A paid constable may be dismissed for misconduct by the justices of the division in petty sessions assembled. The chief and other constables are disqualified from voting at elections for members of parliament, are to exercise no other employment, and are exempt from serving on juries. The fees received by constables are to be paid over to the treasurer of the county in aid of the police rate.

By 19 & 20 Vict. c. 69, the chief and other constables are to have the like powers in boroughs as borough constables have in the county; but by 22 & 23 Vict. c. 32, they are not to be

required to act in boroughs having a separate police establishment, except in execution of warrants of justices of the county, or by order of the chief constable or superintendent.

The counties may be formed into police districts, each district paying its own constables. The justices at quarter sessions are authorized to make a police rate, to be levied and collected with the county rate. Station-houses and strong-rooms are to be provided, and the cost defrayed out of the police-rates, for which purpose money may be borrowed on the credit of such rates. On certificate of the secretary of state that an efficient police has been established in any county or borough, one-fourth of the charge for the payment and equipment of the force will be paid by the treasury, but not to any borough whose population does not exceed 5000, and not consolidated with the police of a county. The home secretary is empowered to issue binding rules for the management of the force; such rules are, however, to be laid before parliament for its information. The crown may appoint inspectors for inquiring into the state and efficiency of the police in counties and boroughs.

Upon oath of any credible witness that any tumult, riot, or felony has taken place, or is reasonably apprehended, and that the ordinary officers of the peace are not sufficient, two or more justices of any county, riding, or division may, by precept in writing, under their hands, appoint as many special constables as they may deem necessary. The secretary of state may direct the lord-lieutenant to cause special constables to be appointed, whether the persons are exempted or not. If no time be limited in the precept, they are to continue in office until their appointment is suspended. Any person appointed a special constable, and refusing to take the oath, or neglecting to appear at the time and place summoned to take the oath, is subject to a penalty, leviable by distress, and in default of distress, to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a term not exceeding one calendar month. Any one assaulting or resisting a constable whilst in the execution of his office, or promoting or encouraging any one to do so is liable to a penalty of £20, or imprisonment for one calendar month, with or without hard labour, or the offender may be indicted. On the other hand, every constable is responsible for his official acts, and may be proceeded against by way of in

dictment. For infractions of law not of a graver nature, as well as for breaches of discipline, the constables are subject to the jurisdiction of the justices. For acts done, bonâ fide in the course of their duty, they are not made accountable, and are protected against vexatious proceedings.

BOOK VII.

The Parliament.

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