The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-06 00:00:00

COUNTY CONSTABULARY FORCE

Whitehall, 1839.
GENTLEMEN,—The recent Act for the appointment
and establishment of County Constables having enacted,
with a view to uniformity of system, that rules are to
be made by one of her Majesty's principal Secretaries of
S'ate for the government of constables so appointed, I
have the honour to transmit to you the enclosed copy of
rules, made by me, for the government of the constables
appointed under that Act for the county of --.
In conformity with the provisions of the same Act, I
have directed a copy of the rules to be sent to the Clerk
of the Peace of the county.
As the first step towards the establishment of a con-
stabulary force will be the appointment of a chief con-
stable (who is to be appointed by the Justices at
Quarter Sessions, subject to the approval of the Secre-
tary of State), I request your attention to that part
of the rules relating to qualifications of chief constables.
I have given directions for a short summary to be
drawn up, respecting the duties and powers of er,nsta-
bles, which may be useful for their instruction and guid-
ance after they have been appointed, and I will transmit
a copy of this summary to the Magistrates as soon as it
is completed.
I have only to add, that if the Magistrates are de-
sirous of receiving from me any further information
upon this subject, I shall be most ready to afford them
all the information in my power.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) NORMANBY.
To the Justices of the Peace for the County of --.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUPERINTENDENT AND CON-
STABLES.—To be under 40 years of age ; to stand five
feet seven inches without shoes ; to read and write, and
keep accounts ; to be free from any bodily complaint,
of strong constitution, and generally intelligent.
No person shall be appointed a superintendent or
constable who shall be a gamekeeper, wood.ranger, bai-
liff, Sheriff's bailiff, or parish clerk, or who shall be a
hired servant in the employment of any person, or who
shall keep or have any interest in any house for the sale
of beer, wine, or spirituous liquors by retail ; and if
any person who shall be appointed a superintendent or
constable shall, at any time after such his appointment,
become a gamekeeper, wood ranger, bailiff, Sheriff's
bailiff, or parish clerk, or shall act in any of the said ca-
pacities, or shall sell or have any interest in the sale of
any beer, wine, or spirituous liquors by retail, such per-
son shall thereupon become and be incapable of acting
as such superintendent or constable, and shall forfeit
his appointment of superintendent or constable, and
also all salary payable to him as a superintendent or
constable.

The annexed certificate of character is to be signed
by one or more respectable persons who have had per-
sonal knowledge of the candidate during the last five
years at least, either singly or collectively.
Rules made by the Marquis of Normanby, one of her
Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, for establish-

in g an uniform system for the Government, pad
clothing, accoutrements, and necessaries of Constables
appointed under the Act 2 and 3 Vict. cap. 93.
CHIEF CONSTABLE.

QUALIFICATIONS OF CHIEFCONSTAISLE.-1. His
age must not exceed forty-five. 2. He must be
certified by a medical practitioner to be in good
health, and of sound constitution, and fitted to perform
the duties of the office. 3. He must not have been a
bankrupt, nor have taken the benefit of the Insolvent
Act. 4. He must be recommended to the Secretary of
State by the Magistrates in whom the appointment is
vested, as a person of general good character and con-
duct. If he has been previously employed in any branch
of the public service, civil or military, he must produce
testimonials, from the proper authorities in such service,
as to general conduct whilst so employed.
SUPERINTENDENT.

QVALIFICATIONS OF SUPERINTENDEN T.--41e must
be qualified according to form A. In case of a vacancy
in the office of superintendent, it should be filled up by
the most deserving constable.

CONSTABLES.
QUALIFICATION of CONSTABLES.—No person shall
be eligible who does not produce a testimonial, accord-
ing to form B. annexed hereto, duly filled up, and who
is not possessed of the qualifications stated in the form
A. The chief constable is to keep a daily account,
according to form C, which is to be laid before the
justices of the county at each quarter sessions of the
peace, or any adjournment thereof, showing the actual
state of the constabulary for the period since the last
preceding quarter sessions of the peace for the county.
And once in every three months, as soon as may be
practicable after the termination of the quarter ses-
sions of the peace in each county, the chief constable
shall transmit a report in writing to one of her Ma-
jesty's principal Secretaries of State, that such daily
account has been laid before the justices for the county
in quarter sessions assembled ; together with a copy
of any note or minute, which may have been made by
any of the said justices upon the same, expressing their
opinion with regard to the effective state of the con-
stabulary during the three months.
PAY.
The pay of the chief constable is to be not less than
2501. or more than 5001. a year. Of a superintendent
not less than 751. or more than 150/. a‘year. Of a con-
stable not less than 15s. or more than 1/. J. a week.
The above rates are intended to be exclusive of any
allowance under the eighteenth section of the Act.
The constable is to be supplied in addition with the
following articles of—

CLOTHING.-Ist year—one great coat, cape to ditto,
badge to ditto, coat, badge to ditto, two pair of
trowsers, one pair of boots, one pair of shoes, hat,
stock. 2d year—one coat, badge to ditto, one pair of
trowsers, one pair of boots, one pair of shoes, hat. The
supply for the third year will be the same as for the
first year, and for the fourth the same as the second ;
and so on for successive periods.
ACCOUTREMENTS.
A constable's staff is to be supplied to each consta-
ble, and a small cutlass may be supplied to any constable
who is so situated, that in the opinion of two Justices
of the county it i 3 necessary for his personal protection
in the performance of his duty. The cutlass is to be worn
at night only, or at times when rioting or serious pub-
lic disturbance has actually taken place, or is appre-
hended, or upon any sudden emergency when orders
have been given by the chief unstable that one or more
of the constables should be so armed ; and the chief con-
stable shall on each occasion of giving any such order
report the same, and the reason for such order, to any
two justices of the peace for the county as soon after-
wards as is practicable, who shall immediately transmit
the said report to the Secretary of State.