Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other people may be granted powers of a constable without holding this title.
Etymology
Historically, the title comes from the
The title was imported to the monarchies of medieval Europe, and in many countries developed into a high military rank and great officer of state (e.g. the Constable of France, in French Connétable de France, who was the commander-in-chief of all royal armed forces (second to the king) until Prime Minister Cardinal Richelieu abolished the charge in 1627).
Most constables in modern jurisdictions are
Historically, a constable could also refer to a
An equivalent position is that of marshal, which derives from Old High German marah ('horse') and schalh ('servant'),[4] and originally meant "stable keeper",[5] which has a similar etymology.[6]
Usage by country and region
Australia
In Australia, as in the United Kingdom, constable is the lowest rank in most police services. It is often categorised into the following (from lowest to highest): probationary constable; constable; constable first class; senior constable; leading senior constable. These variations depend on the individual state or territory police force in question.
Senior constable generally refers to a police officer of the rank above constable, and is denoted by way of two chevrons or stripes.
The New South Wales Police Force has three grades of senior constable, namely senior constable (two chevrons), incremental senior constable (two chevrons and a horizontal bar), and leading senior constable (two chevrons and two horizontal bars). A senior constable is senior to a constable but junior to an incremental senior constable. Promotion to senior constable can occur after a minimum of five years' service (one year as a probationary constable in addition to four years as constable) and then upon passing probity checks and an exam. Incremental senior constable is attained after ten years of service automatically. One is appointed to the rank of leading senior constable on a qualification basis, but must have a minimum of seven years' service amongst other criteria in order to be eligible. Leading senior constable is a specialist position of which there are limited allocated numbers within any section/unit or local area command. If an officer is transferred to another duty type or station, the officer is then relieved of the position of leading senior constable: it is primarily a position for field training officers who oversee the training and development of inexperienced probationary constables or constables.
Within the Victoria Police, senior constable is the rank above constable, while above senior constable is leading senior constable. When first introduced into the Victoria Police, leading senior constable was a classification not a rank, somewhat like "detective"; leading senior constables were appointed specifically to assist in the training and mentoring of more junior members. The last round of wage negotiations, however, saw leading senior constable become a rank in its own right, one that a lot of members pass through on their way from constable to sergeant, though this is not strictly necessary and it is permissible to be promoted to sergeant direct from senior constable. The general form of address for both senior constable and leading senior constable is "senior", and this is acceptable even in courts.
Canada
In Canada, as in the United Kingdom, constable is the lowest rank in most law enforcement services, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[7] In Newfoundland the provincial police are the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, whereby all officers are addressed by the term "constable".
In addition, the chief officers of some municipal police services in Canada, notably Vancouver Police Department, carry the title of chief constable.[8]
In Canadian French, constable is translated to agent, except in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police where it is translated as gendarme.[9]
Appointments can further be separated into:
- Special constables
- RCMP special constables are appointed for specific skills, for example aboriginal language skills. They are peace officersunder the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act.
- Outside of the RCMP, special constables are not police officers but are appointed to serve certain law enforcement functions, for example SPCA agents or court/jail officers.
- RCMP special constables are appointed for specific skills, for example aboriginal language skills. They are
- Auxiliary constables, or reserve constables, are volunteers with a policing agency. They generally have peace officer status only when engaged in specific authorized tasks.
- Provincial civil constables (in Nova Scotia) deal with matters of a civil nature.[10]
Denmark
Within the Danish Defence, constables are the lowest rank group. The ranks of Konstabel, Overkonstabel and Overkonstabel af 1. grad are used for professional enlisted soldiers, sailors and airmen. However, Overkonstabel af 1. grad is only used within the army, as both the navy and air force use a specialist rank instead.[11][12]
NATO Code | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Royal Danish Army[13] | ||||
Danish | Overkonstabel af 1. grad | Overkonstabel | Konstabel | Konstabelelev |
Literal translation | Senior constable first class | Senior constable | Constable | Constable trainee |
Official translation[14] | Lance corporal | Private first class | Private | Recruit
|
Royal Danish Navy[11] | ||||
Danish | Marineoverkonstabel | Marinekonstabel | ||
Literal translation | Senior naval constable | Naval constable | ||
Official translation[15] | Able rating | Junior rating | ||
Royal Danish Air Force[12] | ||||
Danish | Flyveroverkonstabel | Flyverkonstabel | Flyverkonstabelelev | |
Literal translation | Senior air constable | Air constable | Air constable trainee | |
Official translation[16] | Junior technician | Aircraftman | Recruit
|
Finland
In the Finnish Police, the lowest rank of police officer is called nuorempi konstaapeli, translated into English as (junior) constable.[17]
The next rank is vanhempi konstaapeli or senior constable.
The next highest rank (equivalent to a police sergeant in the English-speaking world) is ylikonstaapeli (yli- "leading"), literally "over-constable".[18]
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Police Force have two ranks for constables:
- Senior constable—lead officer in a beat patrol; SPCs wear a single chevron on their shoulder above their unique identification (UI) number.
- Constable—officer in a beat patrol; PCs wear no insignia other than the unique identification (UI) number.
Senior constable is not a rank: it is merely a designation for officers who have served for 18 years.
India
Police constable (abbreviated PC) is the lowest police rank in India, below
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India, also maintain the same ranks as state police even though their jurisdiction varies considerably, with the constables recruited to the CAPF having to do duty all over India. They perform duties such as maintaining internal security, border guarding, and counter-insurgency operations and riot control. Nearly all the police constables wear khaki-coloured uniforms, which indicate that they are police personnel.
Generally there are three types of constables in India, depending upon the unit, wing, branch or section they are attached to. Civil police constables are attached to a police station, traffic police constables control road traffic, telecommunication constables manage communications, whereas armed police constables are attached to armed police units. The types of constables are based on nature of their duties. The Indian police constables do a wide range of duties like patrol, beat system, crime detection, escorting of prisoners and VIPs, guarding vital offices and installations, vehicle traffic control on roads, riot control, assisting civil administration during disasters, epidemics and elections.[20] Generally a police constable does his duty in his jurisdiction area, but can be assigned anywhere by his superiors depending on the situation or need. The duty hours of Indian police constables are erratic, many times without weekly time off or leave.
Police recruitment is based on a written test, plus physical and medical tests. After appointment all police constables have to undergo compulsory training; the duration of training may vary from nine months to one year depending on state. The training and duty of police is physically and mentally strenuous in India.
Norway
In the Norwegian Police Service the rank politikonstabel was until 2003 the lowest rank in the police, the next ranks being "politioverkonstabel", "politibetjent", "politiførstebetjent", "politioverbetjent" and "politistasjonssjef", "lensmann" or "sysselmannsoverbetjent" (all officially translated as chief superintendent). In 2003, the ranks "politikonstabel", "politioverkonstabel" and "politibetjent" were renamed "politibetjent 1", "politibetjent 2" and "politibetjent 3", where "politibetjent 1" is the entry-level rank for a policeman and most junior rank of the police service. All ranks higher than chief superintendent are commissioned ranks, known simply as "higher ranks", and traditionally required a law degree.
The Norwegian Police Service has an integrated prosecution service in which the police lawyers, who all hold higher ranks, require the law degree "
The fire brigades (all municipal) still use "konstabel" as in "brannkonstabel" (fire-constable).
In 2016 the Royal Norwegian Navy started using "konstabel" to describe the enlisted ranks in the navy. Other ranks (OR) 2 to 4+ all use the term "konstabel":
- OR 2 Visekonstabel
- OR 3 Ledende Visekonstabel
- OR 4 Konstabel
- OR 4+ Ledende Konstabel
Pakistan
In Pakistan, constable and head constable are, respectively, the lowest and second-lowest ranks in the police force.[21] The police constables in Pakistan do a wide range of duties like patrol, crime detection, escort of prisoners and VIPs, vehicle traffic control on roads, riot control, assisting civil administration during disasters, epidemic, elections and other tasks.
Poland
In Poland, the constable (Polish: posterunkowy) is the lowest rank in the Police. The next rank in hierarchy is the senior constable (Polish: starszy posterunkowy), and then, the sergeant. To be promoted, the police officer has to serve as a constable for a year, and again for a year as a senior constable.[22][23]
Singapore
In Singapore, a police constable (abbreviated to PC) is the lowest rank in the Singapore Police Force.
The rank of special constable exists, but is centralised under the Volunteer Special Constabulary in Singapore.
South Africa
In South Africa, this rank is the first rank that you come across when you join the South African Police Service
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Police have the rank of "police constable", with four classes.
United Kingdom
There are two main definitions of a constable in the United Kingdom:
- The lowest rank of a police force.
- A legal term for an officer with the powers of a police officer.
The latter usage is mainly in formal contexts, including legislation such as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. By this definition all police officers are constables, even those that do not hold the actual rank of constable. The head of most police forces is a chief constable, volunteer officers of any rank are known as special constables, and some police forces have the word "Constabulary" in their name.
United States
In the United States, use of the term constable is inconsistent, and use may even vary within a state. A constable may be an official responsible for service of process, such as summonses and subpoenas for people to appear in court in criminal and/or civil matters; on the other hand, they can be fully empowered law enforcement officers. Constables may also have additional specialized duties unique to the office. In some states, a constable may be appointed by the governor or a judge or magistrate of the court which he or she serves; in others the constable is an elected or appointed position at the state or local level of local government. Their jurisdiction can vary from statewide to county/parish and local township boundaries based on the state's laws.
The office developed from its British counterpart during the colonial period. Prior to the modernization of law enforcement which took place in the mid-19th century, local law enforcement was performed by constables and
In many states, constables do not conduct patrols or preventive policing activities. In such states the office is relatively obscure to its citizens.
A constable may be assisted by deputy constables as sworn officers or constable's officers as civil staff, usually as process servers. In some states, villages or towns, an office with similar duties is marshal.
Historical usage
Medieval Armenia and Georgia
The titles of
Byzantine Empire
The position of constable originated from the
Late Roman administrative titles were used by Charlemagne in developing his empire; the position of Constable, along with the similar office of Marshal, spread throughout the emerging states of Western Europe during this period.[1] In most medieval nations, the constable was the highest-ranking officer of the army, and was responsible for the overseeing of martial law.[27]
China
France
The Constable of France (Connétable de France), under the
United Kingdom
The office of the constable was introduced in England following the
The office of
In whatever way they come and on whatever day, it is the duty of the constable to enroll everything in order, for he has record as to the things he sees; but he cannot judge, because there is no judgment at the Tower, since there the third element of a judicial proceeding is lacking, namely a judge and jurisdiction. He has record as to matters of fact, not matters of judgment and law.[32]
In Bracton's time, anyone seeing a "misdeed" was empowered to make an arrest. The role of the constable in Bracton's description was as the "eyes and ears" of the court, finding evidence and recording facts on which judges could make a ruling. By extension, the constable was also the "strong arm" of the court (i.e., of the common law), marking the basic role of the constable that continues into the present day.[33]
In 1285, King
The system of policing by unpaid parish constables continued in England until the 19th century; in the London metropolitan area it started to be ended with the creation of the Metropolitan Police by the Metropolitan Police Act 1829, and was completely ended by the Metropolitan Police Act 1839.[35] Outside London, the mandatory introduction of county police forces by the County and Borough Police Act 1856, after nearly 20 years of the permissive County Police Act 1839, finally ended parish constables. After 1856, all areas of England and Wales were covered by a police force. The lowest rank of the police forces and constabularies is "constable", and most outside London are headed by a chief constable.[36][37]
The unique office of 'Parks Constable' was first created when section 221 of the
Other European nations
The position of hereditary constable persists in some current or former monarchies of Europe. The position of Lord High Constable of Scotland is hereditary in the family of the Earl of Erroll. There is also a hereditary constable of Navarre in Spain; this position is currently held by the Duke of Alba.[27]
Historically, many other hereditary constables existed as officers of state in former monarchies. Examples are the Constable of Castile (Condestable de Castilla) and the Constable of Portugal (Condestável do Reino).
See also
- Marshal
- Policing in the United Kingdom
- Policing in the United States
- Sheriff
- Individuals with powers of arrest
- Police
- Chief of police
- Highway patrol
- Constable of Chester
Notes
References
- ^ ISBN 0-304-36201-8
- ^ a b Constable, Encyclopædia Britannica online
- ISBN 0-333-38245-5.
- ISBN 0-550-10234-5.
- ^ Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, Deutsches Wörterbuch, Leipzig 1854–1960, Vol. 12 Col. 1673 Online-Version Archived 2016-10-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "marshal". Online Etymology Dictionary. Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ "RCMP Organisational Structure". Rcmp-grc.gc.ca. 2009-05-19. Archived from the original on 2009-02-28. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ^ "Chief Constable's Office". Vancouver Police Department. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29.
- ^ RCMP Organisational Structure Archived October 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine (in French).
- ^ "Special Constable and Provincial Civil Constable: Appointments". Gov.ns.ca. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
- ^ a b "Flyvevåbnets Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- forsvaret.dk(in Danish). Danish Defence. 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Badges and Insignia of the Royal Danish Army" (PDF). forsvaret.dk. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ "Badges and Insignia of the Royal Danish Navy" (PDF). forsvaret.dk. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ "Badges and Insignia of the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF)" (PDF). forsvaret.dk. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ Rank insignia of a constable Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine, Finnish Police website (in English)
- ^ "Rank insignia of a senior constable". Finnish Police. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25.
- ^ Director General of Police (21 January 2011). "Circular No. 03 /2011" (PDF). Kerala Police. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "Functions, Roles and Duties of Police in General" (PDF). BPRD. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan Police Officer Ranks, Badges and Grades". 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Rozporządzenie Ministra Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji z dnia 18 maja 2022 r. zmieniające rozporządzenie w sprawie umundurowania policjantów". isap.sejm.gov.pl (in Polish). 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 5 lutego 2010 r. w sprawie stopni policyjnych, Agencji Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego, Agencji Wywiadu, Biura Ochrony Rządu, Państwowej Straży Pożarnej, Służby Kontrwywiadu Wojskowego, Służby Wywiadu Wojskowego, Służby Więziennej lub Straży Granicznej odpowiadających poszczególnym stopniom wojskowym". isap.sej.gov.pl (in Polish).
- ^ A Brief Guide to Police History Archived 2007-12-16 at the Wayback Machine, North Carolina Wesleyan College
- ISBN 0-631-15250-4.
- ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6.
- ^ ISBN 0-7548-1062-3
- ^ Vronsky, Peter. "A Brief History of Constables in the English Speaking World". Retrieved 2007-09-14.
- ^ Hanes, A Practical Treatise on the Powers and Duties of Justices of the Peace and in the State of Illinois (4th Ed., 1868) at p.688. See, also, Sir William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England in Four Books, Vol. 1 (1753) at p. 229.
- ISBN 0-304-36201-8
- ^ "Bracton Online". Harvard Law School Library. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
- ISBN 0-19-626613-0. Archived from the originalon 2012-07-11.
- ISBN 0-8020-2863-2.
- ^ ISBN 0-900804-29-7
- ISBN 0-333-67154-6.
- ^ "Wiltshire Constabulary History - "The First and the Best"". Archived from the original on 2007-12-18.
- ^ The Making of a Chief Constable Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Essex Police website
- ^ "Liverpool Parks Police History 'Timeline'". www.liverpoolparkspolice.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
External links
- Patrick Colquhoun, A Treatise on the Functions and Duties of a Constable. London: W. Bulmer and Co., 1803.
- François Hotman, "Of the Constable and Peers of France," Franco-Gallia: Or, An Account of the Ancient Free State of France, and Most Other Parts of Europe, Before the Loss of Their Liberties.[1574], 2nd ed. 1721 English translation from the original Latin. Project Gutenberg e-text # 17894.
- Phillips, Walter Alison (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). pp. 983–984.
- Provincial civil constables in Canada, CMPSNS.com