History of NSW Police

 

Good morning all, it's Monday and I am continuing with the posts about Australia today I touching on law enforcement and the first police officers in Australia.

This information will be posted over a few weeks, this is part one.

The New South Wales(NSW)Police Force is one of the largest police organisations in the English speaking world. It began as the first civilian police force in Australia, known as the Night Watch, and was formed by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1789 to guard Sydney Town. It consisted of 12 convicts who were considered to be the most well-behaved in the colony.

In 1862, all Watch Teams were combined under the Police Regulation Act 1862 to form the NSW Police Force. That Act was later replaced by the Police Regulation Act 1899.

In June 1987, the NSW Police Force (which had carriage of operations) and the NSW Police Department (which had carriage of policy and administration) were amalgamated. We operate under the Police Act 1990 and the Police Regulations 2008.

Way back in 1788 when the First Fleet arrived the initial policing of the new colony of NSW was placed in the hands of the Royal Navy Marines. This was not something the Marines wanted to do so Governor Phillip appointed a bloke by the name of John Smith a free settler to the position of Constable, although he didn't stay in office long but Smith was the first recorded Police Officer in Australia.

In 1789 the Night Watch and the Row Boat Guard were appointed by Governor Phillip drawn from the ranks of the best behaved convicts. In 1790 the Night Watch was replace by the Sydney Foot Police which continued as an organised force until the amalgamation of all NSW colonial police forces in 1862. The Row Boat Guard was both an independent Water Police as well as part of the Sydney Police and was the forerunner of what is today known as the Marine Area Command.