South Australian Police Department, from 1995 South Australia Police (SAPOL) (GA364)

The founders of the colony of South Australia did not plan for the maintenance of a police force. At the time, the concept of a regular police force was relatively new and it was felt that the new colony's remoteness would protect it from any undesirable characters, and that the proper selection of emigrants would render the need for a standing police force unnecessary. Policing functions in the colony were first undertaken by the military detachment attending Governor Hindmarsh. However, fears that runaway convicts and ticket-of-leave men were proceeding to South Australia, led the Colonization Commissioners in London to authorise the establishment of a police force.

A regular force was established in April 1838 under the command of Inspector Henry Inman, who was Superintendent of Police from 17 October 1838. The Government, not being in a position to cover expenses, relied on funding provided by Colonial Treasurer Osmond Gillies from his own private resources, to the tune of one thousand pounds, an act of generosity he may later have regretted when he faced bankruptcy proceedings.

Initially, the force consisted of three officers and twenty constables, and included two prisoners, Joseph Rogers and Thomas Jones, who were enrolled for a period of 12 months without pay, on the understanding that if they "behaved themselves", the remainder of their sentences would be remitted (1).

The Police Act of 1839 created a body of four honorary Commissioners, who were replaced by a salaried Commissioner (Major T.S. O'Halloran) in 1840. (2) The position of Commissioner of Police has been maintained, and the Police Commissioner's Office is responsible for the administration of the Police Department.

Detectives were first appointed by the Commissioner of Police in 1853 'in the nature of an experiment by which I might feel my way to a sounder system [of policing]' (3). In 1867, a Court of Enquiry into the Metropolitan Police Force found that the Metropolitan Police Force was "inefficient for the purposes of preventing and detecting crime" and recommended the establishment of a separate Detective Office (4). The Detective Office was operational by April 1867 (5).

Over the years police were not only responsible for regular law enforcement, but also acted as agent for various other government departments, especially in the country districts - for example, registration of births, deaths and marriages, shop licences, electoral registrar, bull licences, dairy farm licences and beehive licences.

In 1995, the South Australian Police Department became known as 'South Australia Police', abbreviated to SAPOL.

By 2009 SAPOL was divided into the following areas:

Core Business Areas:

Crime Service
Northern Operations Service
Southern Operations Service
Operations Support Service
Protective Security Service
Anti Corruption Branch

Business Support Areas:

Executive Support Branch
Business Service
Human Resources Service
Corporate Communications Branch
Information Systems and Technology Service
Perfomance Management and Reporting Service (6)

The Security Intelligence Section, formerly Special Branch, is an exempt agency under the State Records Act, 1997. (7)

Same agency as GRG5 - different archival control system.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(1) GRG24/4/C(1838)117 (2) Research Note 32. See also GRG 5/21907/112.
(3) SA Government Gazette, 2 June 1853, p. 359.
(4) 'The Police Enquiry', "South Australian Register", 21 November 1866, p. 2.
(5) "The Express and Telegraph", 12 April 1867, p. 2.
(6) Operational Records Disposal Schedule for South Australia Police, RDS 2009/09, pp.15-19.
(7) South Australian Government Gazette, No. 76, 4/11/2010, p.5241.