County and Borough Police Act 1856
Encyclopedia
The County and Borough Police Act 1856 (19 & 20 Vict., c.69) was an Act of Parliament
passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom
. The Act made it compulsory for a police force to be established in any county
which had not previously formed a constabulary.
The Act required that in any county where a constabulary had not already been established for all or part of the county, then the Justices of the Peace
for the county should at the next General or Quarter Sessions
held after December 1, 1856, proceed to establish a sufficient police force.
Where the Secretary of State
received certified notice that an efficient police force had been established in any county or borough
, then one quarter of the costs of pay and clothing for constables would be met by the Treasury.
However, borough
s maintaining a separate police force and having a population of 5,000 or less were to receive no financial support, thereby encouraging smaller forces to consolidate with the county police.
Finally the Act provided that the Cheshire Constabulary
, which had been established by a private Act of Parliament in 1852 (15 & 16 Vict., c.xxxi), would be replaced by a force under the terms of the new Act.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. The Act made it compulsory for a police force to be established in any county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
which had not previously formed a constabulary.
The Act required that in any county where a constabulary had not already been established for all or part of the county, then the Justices of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the county should at the next General or Quarter Sessions
Quarter Sessions
The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the United Kingdom and other countries in the former British Empire...
held after December 1, 1856, proceed to establish a sufficient police force.
Where the Secretary of State
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
received certified notice that an efficient police force had been established in any county or borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
, then one quarter of the costs of pay and clothing for constables would be met by the Treasury.
However, borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
s maintaining a separate police force and having a population of 5,000 or less were to receive no financial support, thereby encouraging smaller forces to consolidate with the county police.
Finally the Act provided that the Cheshire Constabulary
Cheshire Constabulary
Cheshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the English unitary authorities of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington. The force is responsible for policing an area of with a population of roughly 1 million.The Chief Constable of the...
, which had been established by a private Act of Parliament in 1852 (15 & 16 Vict., c.xxxi), would be replaced by a force under the terms of the new Act.