LIABILITY OF CONSTABLES
AN IMPORTANT DECISION. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, March 16. (Received March 16, at 10.42 a.m.)
The question whether a police constable is personally liable for his own acts or whether the Government which employs him is responsible was dealt with by the High Court. The plaintiff obtained a verdict in the Low Court of Tasmania against the Government for wrongful arrest, but tbo Full Court quashed the verdict. An appeal' to the High Court confirmed the Full Court's decision. The High Court held that authority to arrest was not conferred upon the Government nor exercised on its behalf; it was conferred on the constable as holder of a public office to which well-known duties and responsibilities were attached. The arrest was made in the discharge of his duty as'bolder of the office gf constable, and not by tlio direction or under the control of the Government, The relation of master and servant between the constable ami the Government could not be implied.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 13544, 17 March 1906, Page 7
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165LIABILITY OF CONSTABLES Otago Daily Times, Issue 13544, 17 March 1906, Page 7
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