JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 37, 12 August 1921, Page 8

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

POLICE APPOINTMENTS,

The latest list of appointments of Justices of the Peace contains the names of four police inspectors.

From inquiries made by a Post reportor, it was learned that the appointment of police officers to the Commission of the Peace does not establish any new precedent. The Armed Constabulary Act of 1867, which was the forerunner of the Police Force Act, 1886, and by virtue of which many present members of the Police Force hold their appointments, provided (section 15). that "every command^ ant and inspector, after having taken the oath of office of the Armed Constabulary Force, shall thereupon be and become, withont further qualification or appoint-, nient, and continue so long as he shall hold such office, but no longer, va Justice of the Peace of the colony." The Police Force Act of 1886 made- no corresponding provision with regard to the appointment of commissioned officers as Justices of the Peace, but the practice of making such appointments has been (followed, and every commissioner, superintendent, and every inspector since appointed ,'to. his; rank, has been gazetted a Justice of the Peace as a matter'of course. Inspectors of the Police Forco, therefore, have the same tenure of office as J.P.s as all other persons, that is, ordinarily, for life. It has been found in practice that the appointment of commissioned police officers as J.P.s has been exceedingly useful and convenient to the public. Such officers, of courso, do not preside over the Bench, oven in civil cases, but they" have the ordinary powers to take the bail of persons in custody, and to take affidavits and statutory declarations. :