South Australian Police Department (GRG5)

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, that kindness to the Aborigines would obviate any agression on their part, and further, 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 police 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.

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, in 1949 Mounted Constable Ward of Orroroo Police Station was also Clerk and Bailiff of the Local Court, Inspector and Registrar of Shops, Issuer of Gun Licences, Issuer of Bull Licences, Issuer of Dairy Licences, Issuer of Miners' Rights, Registrar of Pensions, and Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Other extraneous duties included Electoral Registrar, Issuer of Beehive Licences, Inspector under the Fruit, Vine and Vegetables Act, Representing Officer of the Children's Welfare and Public Relief Department, Assistant for the Harbors' Board, Registrar of Dogs (out of Hundreds areas), Rabbit Inspector and Inspector of Places of Public Entertainment (4). In the nineteenth century police constables often acted as Crown Lands Rangers.

GRG 5 Record Series:

There is considerable variation in the comprehensiveness of the records of each district and individual station. The regional divisions adopted in the arrangement of the records of the Police Department are those current in 1973-1974, when most of the records in GRG 5 were transferred to the Archives. (3) The only exception to this is that the area designated as Metropolitan includes City and Port Adelaide divisions, and suburbs contained in Regions B, C and D (extending
north to Gawler, east to Stirling, and south to Willunga). No attempt has been made to further distinguish stations in the metropolitan area because of the frequent re-structuring of district and regional boundaries.

NOTES:

Circular Memorandum 15/1959 states "The Felony book* in use at all Country Stations is to be abolished. It appears that this book is a duplication of Criminal Offence reports filed at Stations. These reports should be sufficient to supply all information which is normally entered in the Felony book" 22/12/1959. GRG5/323/6.

* the' Felony book' referred to is the volume usually accessioned by State Records as the 'Register of prisoners, reported felonies and warrant book'.

For Reports from the Board of Enquiry appointed to investigate and report uopn the state of Discipline and Efficiency of the Police Force see Council No. 100 of 1853 (bound in the S.A. Parliamentary Papers). This report mentions issues associated with the Gold Escort.

Same agency as GA364 - different archival control system.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(1) GRG24/4/C(1838)117 (2) Research Note 32. See also GRG 5/21907/112.
(3) See map, Paper No. 53. S.A. Parliamentary Papers, 1973-74
Vol. 3.
(4) GRG5/2 File 3/5/6008.