INTERNAL REGULATIONS.
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INTERNAL REGULATIONS.
I.--DUTIES AND POWERS OF PARTICULAR MEMBERS OF THE FORCE.
SUPERINTENDENT, INSPECTOR, OR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF DISTRICT.
General Duties of Superintendent.
1. THE Superintendent, Inspector, or other Officer in charge of a Police District, or Out-station, is expected to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the character, efficiency, and conduct of his Officers and Men.
Of Sub-Inspector, or Second in Command:
2. The second in command, being the immediate assistant of the Superintendent, or other superior Officer, should make himself thoroughly acquainted with all the duties of that Officer. To his inferiors in the Force it is expected that he will set an example of cheerful and zealous obedience to all orders from his immediate superior Officer, as well as of strict adherence to the rules and regulations herein laid down for the government, discipline, and internal economy of the Force,
To watch over and report conduct of Men;
3. It is the peculiar province of the Sub-Inspector, or second in command, to watch over the conduct of the Sergeants and Men, and to report every act of irregularity, or neglect of duty, to his superior.
And breaches of discipline, &c.:
4. He must never permit the slightest breach of discipline, or slovenliness of person, or carelessness, on the part of either Sergeant or Constable, to pass without reporting it.
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To make himself acquainted with their character &c.
5. He is expected, by constant intercourse with his Men, to make himself well acquainted with the character and talents of each and every individual under him. He will communicate to his superior the result of his scrutiny into the conduct and character of both Sergeants and Constables, whom he is to examine frequently on all points relating to their duty.
Power of Inspector, or Sub-Inspector, as to suspension or dismissal of Constables.
6. The Inspector is to report to Government any neglect of duty on the part of any Officer of the Force. He is authorised to suspend or dismiss from his employment any Constable whom he shall think remiss or negligent in his duty. But he must immediately report such suspension, or dismissal, to the Colonial Secretary: and, before appointing any person in the room of the Constable so dismissed, he must apply for the sanction of the Government.
This power how to be exercised in distant Stations.
7. In distant Stations, or where there is no Inspector, or when the Inspector cannot readily be communicated with, it will be the duty of the Officer in charge, in cases of drunkenness or insubordination in a Constable, to bring the offender before the nearest Resident Magistrate, or Bench of Magistrates, and, on their recommendation, to suspend or dismiss him; but such Officer in charge must report the case by the first opportunity to the Superintendent or Inspector, of the district.
The Inspector, &c., to take care that members of the Force are made acquainted with Ordinances of New Zealand, &c, affecting their duties.
8. The Inspector or Officer in command of any principal Station is specially required to take care that the members of the Force have constant access to copies of these regulations; and to copies of all Ordinances of the colony which affect their duties, or those of the public under their supervision. He must also on no account omit to cause to be fastened up in a conspicuous place in the chief Station Houses notices from time to time of the bringing into operation, by proclamation or otherwise, of any Ordinance of the Legislature, in any particular district or town; taking particular care that the members of the Force understand the meaning and intention of the enactment, and the local boundaries within which it is to be in operation.
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SERGEANT.
General duty of Sergeant:
9. It is the duty of the Sergeant to watch over the conduct of the Constables, and report every irregularity, neglect of duty, or breach of discipline, which they may commit, to his superior Officer without delay.
To require respectful conduct in the Men;
10. He must respect and uphold the authority of his superiors, and not allow his Men to speak disrespectfully of any Magistrate, or of any Officer of the establishment.
And prevent religious or political discussions.
11. He must abstain himself, and take care that the Men also abstain, from entering upon any religious or political discussions.
CONSTABLE.
Constable's general behaviour.
12. Every Police Constable in the Force may hope to rise by activity, intelligence, and good conduct, to superior stations. He must make it his duty to recommend himself to notice, by a diligent discharge of his duties, and strict obedience to the commands of his superiors, recollecting that he who is accustomed to submit cheerfully to discipline will be considered best qualified to command.
Amount of education required of him.
13. No person can be admitted into the Force unless he be able to read and write; the employment of the whole of the Police in turn, as mail carriers, renders this regulation necessary.
Qualifications for Sergeant.
14. No Constable can be promoted to the rank of Sergeant who cannot write a good official report, no matter how exemplary his conduct may be. It is, therefore, the interest of every man to devote every hour which can be spaced from his duty to reading and writing, and the general improvement of his mind.
Dress.
15. The Constable is at all times to appear neat in his person, and properly dressed in the established uniform.
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Demeanour.
16. The demeanour of the Constable must always be respectful to his Officers and superiors.
Strict obedience requisite;
17. He must readily and punctually obey the orders and instructions of the Inspector, Sergeants, and those placed in authority oyer him; if they appear to him either unlawful, or improper, he may complain to the Superintendent, or Inspector, (through the prescribed channel), who will pay due attention to his complaint; but any refusal to perform the command of his superiors, or negligence in doing so, will not be suffered.
Constable's time and abilities due to Public Service.
18. The Constable must consider the whole of his time and abilities as due to the Public Service; he must serve and reside wheresoever he is directed, and conform to all regulations respecting the Force, as established by competent authority.
Perfect sobriety necessary.
19. Of all the qualifications for a Constable, none is of greater importance than that of perfect sobriety. Nothing degrades a Police Constable so much as drunkenness; nothing reflects so much discredit upon the Force, nor is any other fault so soon observed by the public: upon no occasion, therefore, nor under any circumstances whatever, will the Inspector pardon the crime of drunkenness; and, in order to provide as much as possible against the practice of so degrading a vice, it is hereby directed, that no individual, even although he may not be on duty at the time, shall frequent public houses, or tap-rooms, on any account whatever.
And Cordiality towards other Members of Force.
20. The situation in which the Men are placed renders it of great importance that they should be on the most cordial terms with each other, and join in everything that may tend to the advantage and well being of the whole; therefore any man of a discontented, or irritable temper, prone to quarrel with his comrades on every slight occasion, will be considered unfit to remain in the service.
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II.--PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES.
No members of Force to take money;
21. Upon no occasion, and under no pretence whatsoever, shall a Constable take money from any person without the express permission of the Inspector, or Sub-Inspector.
Nor to engage in trade.
22. No Officer or Constable shall be concerned, directly or indirectly, in any business or traffic.
Constable not to marry.
28. No Constable shall marry without first obtaining the permission of the Inspector, or Sub-Inspector.
Not to meddle in political or religious discussion;
24. It is strictly enjoined upon every Constable that he shall abstain from the expression of any political or religious opinions which may in the slightest degree be calculated to give offence; and that he shall not belong to any political society, or to any secret society, except those permitted by law.
Nor with elections.
25. No Constable, during the continuance of his appointment in the Force, shall vote at any election of any member of the General or Provincial Councils of the Colony, or for any city or borough within the said Colony; nor shall he, by any word, message, writing, or in any other manner, endeavour to persuade any elector to give, or dissuade any elector from giving, his vote for such purpose.
Nor to write to public newspapers.
26. From the manifest inconvenience that would arise to the public service, if members of this Force were permitted to address communications to persons connected with the press, for publication in the newspapers, a course so opposed to all discipline and good order is strictly prohibited; nor are Constables or Officers allowed, in any case, to address the Inspector or Government through the columns of a newspaper, or through any but the official channels of communication, which are always open. This will be deemed an offence as grave as that of suppressing or retarding any letter or report addressed through a Constable to the Inspector.
Other offences with the foregoing.
27. Any individual of the Armed Police Force, whether Officer or Constable, who shall be guilty of
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disobedience of orders, or the lawful commands of his superior Officer; or who shall strike his superior; or who shall be guilty of any oppression or tyrannical conduct towards an inferior; or who shall, directly or indirectly, receive any bribe or gratuity; or who shall embezzle or misapply any public monies, appointments, clothing, or stores; or who shall wear any party badge or emblem; or who shall make use of any mutinous words, or be guilty of any mutinous or insubordinate conduct; or who shall knowingly make any false return or statement, or sign any false certificate, or be party thereunto; or who shall make any alteration or erasure (for the purpose of fraud or deceit) in any public document; or who shall make any false entry in any official book or diary; or who shall omit to make a true and faithful return of all fines received by him, or to which he may be entitled upon any conviction in which he shall have been a prosecutor or witness; or who shall be guilty of gambling; or who shall misapply any money or goods levied under any warrant, or taken from any prisoner; or who shall give notice, or otherwise cause to be intimated, either directly or indirectly, to any person against whom there shall be a warrant or order, notice thereof, with the view to the evasion of such warrant or order; or who shall divulge any matter or thing which it may be his duty to keep secret; or who, knowing where any offender shall be residing, or concealed, shall not immediately give information to his superior of the same; or who shall not take due and prompt measures for the arrest of such person; or who shall wilfully, or through negligence, allow any prisoner to escape; or who shall use any cruel, harsh, or unnecessary violence, towards any prisoner, or other person; or who shall be guilty of any prevarication before any Court, or upon any enquiry; or who shall behave in any scandalous or infamous manner, or shall be guilty of any disgraceful conduct, or offend in any of the particulars mentioned above as rendering him unfit for further service:--
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To be punishable with dismissal.
28. For all or any of the foregoing offences enumerated in this section, any Officer or Constable, as the case may be, shall be subject to immediate dismissal, with forfeiture of arrears of pay--independently of any other punishment to which by law he may be subject.
Inspector not bound to assign cause of dismissal.
29. It is, however, to be especially understood that the Inspector is not bound, if there be reason to the contrary, to assign the cause of his dismissal to any member of the Force.
Offences punishable with suspension, fine, or dismissal.
80. Any Officer or Constable who shall violate, or by any concealment or wilful omission attempt to evade, the true spirit and meaning of these rules and regulations; or shall incur and refuse, or neglect to pay, any lawful debt; or, being either Sergeant, Corporal, or Constable, shall be seen in any public house when not necessarily there on duty,---will be liable to suspension or dismissal, or to such fine as the Inspector, under the powers given him in the 7th clause of the Constabulary Force Ordinance, Session VII., No. 2, may direct.
III.--COMPLAINTS.
Complaints how to be made.
31. Any individual of this Force who has, or thinks he has, just cause of complaint against his superior, or other individual of the Constabulary, must make his complaint in writing, and hand it to his Inspector, who will read it to the accused party, and carefully enquire into its merits, and state, in his communication upon the subject, whether its truth has been acknowledged or denied, together with such information or observations as he may think necessary.
Groundless complaints.
32. All reports or complaints arising from a spirit of recrimination must be treated with great care in their investigation, and the benefit of every possible doubt given to the accused party. It must also be clearly understood, that any Constable or Officer preferring a frivolous or groundless complaint against his superior, will be deemed guilty of a grave offence against good order and discipline, and be dealt with accordingly.
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IV.--REGULATIONS RESPECTING VARIOUS DETAILS OF THE SERVICE.
BOOKS, REPORTS, AND PAY LIST.
Books to be kept
83. The following Books are to be kept by the Principal Officer at each station --
1st. A Diary, containing the several duties performed by him.
2nd. Letter Book.
3rd. An Account Book, for entering all payments, as contingencies on account of the Force.
4th. A Defaulter's Book.
Weekly Report.
34. The Inspector will send in a weekly report of the distribution of the Force to the Colonial Secretary, containing a list of the Stations, and the number of Officers and Men at each.
Pay Lists.
35. No Officer is to require any Constable to sign, and Constables are hereby directed not to sign, any account or pay list, acknowledging the receipt of any pay, or allowances, unless the sum specified in such account, or pay list, have been actually paid to such Constable.
PROCEEDINGS ON ENTERING THE SERVICE.
Oath to be taken.
36. The Act of Council under which the Constabulary Force is formed having prescribed that an oath shall be taken by every member of the establishment, it is thought expedient to insert a copy of the oath in these instructions, so that that solemn obligation for a correct and impartial discharge of duty, shall never be absent from the recollection of both Officers and Men.
Form of Oath.
37. I, A. B., do swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen, in the office of Constable, without favour or affection, malice or ill will; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved, and prevent all offences against the persons and properties of her Majesty's subjects; and that, while I continue to hold the said
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office, I will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law:--so help me God.
Period of service.
38. Each Constable will be sworn in for a period of one year, and no Constable shall quit the Force without first obtaining the sanction of the Inspector, or Sub-Inspector.
Certificate of health.
39. Every man, before being taken into the Force, shall be examined by the Colonial Surgeon, and procure a certificate of good health and physical capacity for the duties of the service.
PROVISION, WEAR, AND DISPOSAL OF DRESS AND ACCOUTREMENTS.
Clothing to be provided by Constable.
40. As soon as possible after being sworn in, each Constable shall provide himself with a uniform cloth jacket, trowsers, and. cap; also, two pairs of white trowsers, and a haversack, at his own expense.
Great coat, arms, and accoutrements, by Government.
41. He will be provided by Government with a carbine, accoutrements, and great coat, which he will be required to produce at all parades, or inspections, in a serviceable condition.
Uniform when to be worn.
42. When in charge of prisoners, the Constables will wear all their accoutrements; but, on all other occasions of duty, only their side belt.
When to be delivered up.
43. Every man dismissed from the Police Force, or who shall resign his situation, will be required to deliver up all the arms, accoutrements, and great coats, which have been supplied to him. The great coat is considered to be serviceable for three years from the date of its being first issued.
Deduction for improper usage.
44. If any of the articles have, in the opinion of the Inspector, or Sub-Inspector, been improperly used, or damaged, a deduction will be made from any pay, or
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monies due to the individual, sufficient to make good the damage, or to supply a new article, as the case may be.
DRILL AND SALUTES.
Marching Drill to be taught
45. Constables, on their first appointment to the Force, will be attached to the Reserve, in order that they maybe instructed in marching drill; it being essential that, in the event of the Constabulary being called upon to act in a body, they should be in a condition to do so with some degree of regularity and steadiness. No Man can be considered fit for the active duties of his office until he has acquired sufficient knowledge of his drill.
Magistrates, &c., to be saluted.
46. Constables are required to make themselves acquainted with the persons of the Magistrates, and superior Officers of the Government, to whom they will pay the respect due to their rank, by saluting them whenever they may meet them, as also all Officers of the Army and Navy in Uniform.
STATION HOUSES.
Station Houses to be kept clean.
47. The Men under the direction of the Sergeant in charge (the senior Sergeant present) are to keep every part of the Station House, its approaches, passages, and yards, clean and in good order; and are to study to uphold an appearance of neatness and regularity in every thing connected with their post.
Rule as to cooking. -- And entering charges.
48. One of the Men living at the Station House will be named monthly, whose duty it will be to prepare the meals of the remainder of the Men, to keep the House, Utensils, &c, in a clean and decent manner; and also, in the absence of the Sergeant, or other non-commissioned Officer from the Station, to enter all Charges, Occurrences, &c, in a Book kept for that purpose.
As to leaving Station.
49. No Man shall leave the Station without acquainting the Man in charge where he is to be found; nor go to
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any greater distance from the Station than a quarter of a mile, without permission from the Inspector, or Sub-Inspector.
And admission of Visitors.
50. The Sergeant in charge is held strictly responsible that the relatives of Constables, or other persons, not belonging to the Force, be not allowed to sleep in the Bed-rooms belonging to the Men; and that no person, except on business relating to the Public Service, be allowed to frequent the Station. This regulation must be more particularly observed with respect to dismissed Constables.
Gambling, &c. prohibited.
51. Card playing, and every other species of Gambling, as already stated above, is punishable, with dismissal.
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