Police Magistrates, Metropolitan Act 1821

JurisdictionUK Non-devolved
Citation1821 c. 118
Anno Regni GEORGII IV. Britanniarum RegisPrimo & Secundo. An Act for the more effectual Administration of the Office of a Justice of the Peace in and near the Metropolis; and for the more effectual Prevention of Depredations on the RiverThames and its Vicinity, for One Year.

(1 & 2 Geo. 4) C A P. CXVIII.

[10th July 1821]

'WHEREAS Two Acts were made in the Fifty fourth Year of His late Majesty's Reign, the One intituledAn Act for repealing an Act made in the Fifty first Year of His present Majesty, for the more effectual Administration of the Office of a Justice of the Peace in such Parts of the Counties of Middlesex and Surrey as lie in and near the Metropolis; and for making other Provisions in lieu thereof; to continue in force until the First Day of June One thousand eight hundred and twenty, and from thence until the Expiration of Six Weeks from the Commencement of the then next Session of Parliament ; and the other, intituled An Act to revive and continue until the First Day of June One thousand eight hundred and twenty, and to amend several Acts for the more effectual Prevention of Depredations on the River Thames and its Vicinity ; both which Acts were by an Act of the last Session of Parliamentcontinued in force until the End of the present Session of Parliament: And Whereas it is expedient that the Provisions of the said Acts should be consolidated and amended; and that One of the Police Office, established by the said first recited Act, should be removed to a more convenient Site:' May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by The King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliamentassembled, and by the Authority of the same, That the said Two Acts of the Fifty fourth Year aforesaid shall be and the same are hereby continued in force until and upon the Fifth Day ofJuly One thousand eight hundred and twenty one, and be then repealed; and that the Provisions of this Act shall thenceforth commence and continue in force for the Term of One Year.

S-II The Public Offices now established continued, but instead of the Office at Shadwell a new Office to be established in Mary le bone. Justices to act.

II The Public Offices now established continued, but instead of the Office at Shadwell a new Office to be established in Mary le bone. Justices to act.

II. And be it enacted, That the Police Office now established in the Parish ofSaint John of Wapping , commonly called ‘The Thames Police Office,’ and the several Police Offices now established in the Parishes of Saint Margaret Westminster, Saint James Westminster, Saint Andrew Holborn, Saint Leonard Shoreditch , and Saint Mary Whitechapel , in the County of Middlesex , and in the Parish of Saint Saviour , in the County of Surrey , shall be continued; and that instead of the Police Office now established in the Parish of Saint Paul Shadwell , a new Police Office shall be established in the Parish of Saint Mary le bone , in the said County of Middlesex ; and that the several Persons heretofore appointed or who before the Commencement of this Act shall be appointed to execute the Duties of a Justice of the Peace at the Police Offices now established under the said recited Acts, shall continue to execute the same at the said Seven first mentioned Offices, and at the said Police Office so to be established as last aforesaid, together with such other Justices of the Peace for the said Counties respectively as may thinkproper to attend thereat; and that it shall be lawful for His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, upon every Vacancy by Death or otherwise, to appoint another fit Person, being a Justice of the Peace of the said Counties ofMiddlesex and Surrey respectively, to execute the Duties of a Justice of the Peace at the said several Police Offices, in lieu of the Person making such Vacancy.

S-III Time of Attendance of Justices.

III Time of Attendance of Justices.

III. And be it further enacted, That One or more of the said Justices so appointed shall diligently attend at each of the said Police Offices every Day, from Ten of the Clock in the Morning until Eight of the Clock in the Evening, and at such other Times and Places as shall be found necessary, and directed by His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department; and that Two of the said Justices shall in like manner attend together at each of the said Offices, from Twelve of the Clock at Noonuntil Three in the Afternoon: Provided always, that no such Attendance shall be given onSunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or any Day appointed for a Public Fast or Thanksgiving, unless in cases of urgent Necessity, or when it shall be directed by such Principal Secretary of State.

S-IV Receiver continued, and in case of Death His Majesty may appoint another.

IV Receiver continued, and in case of Death His Majesty may appoint another.

IV. And be it further enacted, That the present Receiver for the Seven Police Offices established under the said first recited Act, shall become the Receiver for the said Eight Police Offices; and that it shall be lawful for His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, upon any Vacancy in the said Office of Receiver, by Death or otherwise, to appoint any other proper Person, not being one of the Justices appointed to act at either of the said Police Offices, to be the Receiver of the said Eight Police Offices; and that the said Receiverfor the time being shall receive all Fees, Penalties and Forfeitures, and other Sums of Money applicable to the Purposes of this Act, and shall keep an exact and particular Account of all such Monies as shall be received by him, and shall apply the same Quarterlyin Discharge of the Salaries, Expences and Charges attending the said Police Offices, and in carrying this Act into Execution, and shall make all such Contracts and Disbursements as shall be necessary for purchasing, hiring, fitting up and furnishing proper and sufficient Houses and Buildings, wherein the said Eight Public Offices shall be held, in such manner as His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, by and with the Advice and Consent of His or their Privy Council, shall think proper to direct and appoint; of which Houses and Buildings so to be hired or purchased, and the Fixtures and Furniture thereof, and of all other Necessaries to be held or purchased for the Purposes of this Act, the Property acquired therein shall be vested in the Receiver for the time being, who shall and may sell, assign and dispose of the same or any Part thereof, under the like Directionsand Appointment, as Occasion shall require; and such Receiver shall prepare proper Plans and Estimates of all such Contracts and Disbursements as shall be necessary for the Purposes aforesaid, and shall deliver the same to His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department; and such Receiver shall further do and execute all such other lawful Matters and Things towards the Establishment of the said Eight Police Offices, and towards the carrying this Act into Execution, as His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, by and with the Advice of His or their Privy Council, shall from time to time think proper to direct.

S-V Justices to employ Constables, subject to Approbation of Secretary of State;

V Justices to employ Constables, subject to Approbation of Secretary of State;

V. And be it further enacted, That the Justices appointed as aforesaid, or any Two of them, in their respective Offices, shall appoint, retain and employ a sufficient Number of fit and able Men for the whole Eight Offices, subject to the Approbation of His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department; whom they are hereby authorized and empowered to swear in to act as Constables, for preserving the Peace and preventing Robberies and other Felonies, and apprehending Offenders against the Peace; which Constables so sworn shall, within the Counties ofMiddlesex, Surrey, Essex and Kent , have all such Powers, Authorities, Privileges and Advantages, as any Constable duly appointed now has or hereafter may have by virtue of any Law or Statute now made or hereafter to be made; and shall obey all such lawful Commands as they shall from time to time receive from the said Justices respectively, for the apprehending Offenders, or otherwise conducting themselves in the Execution of their Offices; and such justices may at any Time suspend or dismiss from his Employment any such Constable attached to their respective Offices, whom they shall think remiss or negligent in the Execution of his Duty, or otherwise unfit for the same; and when any such Constable shall be so dismissed, or cease to belong to any of the said Offices, all Powers and Authorities vested in him as a Constable under and by virtue of this Act shall immediately cease and determine, to all Intents and Purposes whatever.

S-VI Thames Police Surveyors to be appointed in like Manner.

VI Thames Police Surveyors to be appointed in like Manner.

VI. And be it further enacted, That the Justices appointed to the saidThames Police Office, or any Two of them, shall (subject to such Approbation as aforesaid), retain and employ any Number of fit and discreet Men, not exceeding Thirty, who, under the Name of Thames Police Surveyors, shall (being first duly sworn in manner above mentioned) have, within the Counties aforesaid, the Powers, Authorities, Privileges and Advantages of a Constable as aforesaid, and shall direct and inspect the Conductof the Constables attached to theThames Police Office, and of all Persons to be employed in and about Ships and Vessels in the said River Thames , or in or on the several Creeks, Wharfs, Quays and Landing Places thereto adjacent, and (subject to the Orders of the said last mentioned Justices) shall have Power by virtue of their Offices to enter at all Times, as well by Night as by Day, into and upon every Ship, Hoy,Barge, Lighter, Boat or...

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