An Act for the temporary establishment of a Rural Police for this Island

Preamble

Whereas the Act for the establishment of a Rural Police has been disallowed by His Majesty in Council. An whereas it is absolutely necessary for the preservation of the public peace that a Rural Police Force should be forth with appointed. 

Clause 1st. Be it therefore Enacted by His Excellency Sir Lionel Smith Knight Commander of the most honorable Military Order of the Bath His Majesties Captain General and Governor in Chief of this Island, Chancellor Ordinary and Vice Admiral of the same, the honorable the Members of His Majesty’s Council and the General Assembly of this Island, and by the authority of the same. That it shall be lawful for His Excellency The Governor to nominate and appoint immediately after the passing of this Act the several Sergeants, Keepers of Houses of Correction and Police Officers for the respective Districts hereinafter mentioned that is to say, One Serjeant and one keeper of the house of correction for each District, and that for the Perish of Saint Michael and Town of Bridge Town which shall form one of such Districts A., there shall be appointed Eight privates to serve on horseback, and eight privates to serve on foot, for the Parishes of Christ Church and Saint George which shall form District B., Twelve privates to serve on horseback, and twelve privates to serve on foot, for the Parishes of Saint Philip and Saint John which shall form District C., Twelve Privates to serve on horseback and Twelve privates to serve on foot for the parishes of Saint James and Saint Thomas which shall for District D., Eight Privates to serve on horseback and eight privates to serve on foot for the Parishes of Saint Peter and Saint Lucy which shall form District E., Twelve Privates to serve on horseback and Twelve privates to serve on foot and for the Parishes of Saint Joseph and Saint Andrew which shall form District F., Eight Privates to serve on foot, and eight privates to serve on horseback, and when and so soon as they are respectively appointed to such situations they shall hold and exercise their respective offices under such Rules and Regulations as shall be settled by the council and assembly and approved of by the Governor or Commander in Chief for the time being.

[margin] Rules for the guidance of the Police to be settled by the council and Assembly and approved by the governor

And be it further enacted that when in any vacancies shall occur in any such situations as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the several special justices of the Peace in their respective Districts to appoint fit and competent persons to fill the same. Provided that no such appointment shall be valid until the same shall have been confirmed by the Governor or Commander in chief for the time being. 

[margin] Cl-2nd Vacancies how to be supplied

And be it further enacted that it shall be lawful for the several Special Justices in their respective Districts to suspend the said several Sergeants, Keepers of houses of correction and Police Men for the misconduct or inefficiency or willful disobedience of the said Rules and Regulations: And that it shall be lawful for the governor or commander in Chief for the time being to confirm or disallow such suspension, and in case it shall seem fit to dismiss the person so suspended by the Special Justice as aforesaid. 

[margin] Cl: 3rd Suspension of Police officers to be confirmed or disallowed by the governor

And be it further enacted that the several sergeants, keeps of houses of correction and Police officers appointed by virtue  of this Act shall be always on duty at such place in the respective Districts to which they belong as they have heretofore resided at, or which may be for that purpose provided for them subject to the lawful commands of the several Special Justices in their respective Districts and to such Rules and Regulations as are hereinbefore directed to be made concerning the same, and the Treasurer of the Island in hereby authorized to hire such places for the purpose of aforesaid. And the said Sergeants and Police Men shall act as conservators of the Peace for their respective  Distrits, and they shall have exercise and enjoy all the powers, authorities and immunities which are incident to the office of a constable or Police officer under any Act of this Island or any Act of the Imperial Parliament in force in this Island which are by the general Law vested in constables. 

[margin] Cl. 4 Regulations to be observed by Police officers

[margin] and they are to exercise the authority of Constable

[margin] Cl. 5 Salaries to be paid monthly to Sarjeants and Police men & on certificates from the Special Justice of the District

 And be it  further enacted that each of the sergeants hereby appointed shall be required to keep a good horse and shall receive a salary at the rate of One Hundred and Thirty pounds current money of this Island per annum and each of the said Police men serving on horseback shall receive a Salary at the rate of eighty pounds like current money per annum, and each Police Man serving on  foot shall receive a salary at the rate of fifty pounds like current money per annum and the keeps of the Prisons hereby appointed shall receive a salary at the rate of one hundred pounds, like current money per annum, which said several salaries shall be paid by the Treasurer of the Island in equal monthly payment on the Certificates of the several Special Justices of the Peace that the same are due.

And be it further enacted that all apprenticed labourers committed to the Houses of Correction herein before mentioned shall be subject to such Rules and Regulations as shall be framed by the said several Special Justices respecting their classification, maintenance and discipline, and to such punishments for disobedience of the said rules and regulations as apprenticed Labourers are subject to under the Act for the Abolition of Slavery in this Island. Provided that no such rules and regulations shall be valid until they have been approved of by the Governor or commander in Chief for the time being. 

[margin] Cl 6th Special Justices to frame [?] Rules for apprenticed labourers subject to the approval of the Governor.

And be it further enacted that this act shall continue in force for the period of Six months from and after the passing of the same, and no longer. 

Read three times and passed the Council unanimously the twenty fourth day of April on thousand eight hundred and thirty five…. Wm [William] Husbands Clerk of the council

Read Three times and passed the General Assembly ___ contradicente the Twenty fourth day of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty five- John Mayers Clerk of the General Assembly