The Dictionary of Sydney
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Law and Order
Law enforcement

Law enforcement

Subject

The murder of Constable Joseph Luker

Summary Offences Act No 96, 1970

Colonial police

Night watch

Bladders, William

Freeman, James

Howard, Robert Rice

Smyth, Thomas

Contraband at Customs House, 11 July 1939

Description of the execution of Thomas Barrett in Arthur Bowes Smyth's journal, 27 February 1788

Report of the schooner Alligator on the Georges River 1826

The Bridge Street Burglars: Graphic Account of the Execution in 'The Bird O'Freedom', 2 June 1894

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Law enforcement

The murder of Constable Joseph Luker

Convict Joseph Luker placed his past firmly behind him when he decided to pursue a career as a police constable in colonial Sydney. This transition from law breaker to law enforcer would also see him become the first officer of the law killed in the line of duty in Australia.

Summary Offences Act No 96, 1970

Legislation which made certain offences punishable in a summary manner. These included prostitution, vagrancy, betting, public assembly and drunkeness.

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Colonial police

In 1796, Governor Hunter reorganised the night watch that had been established in 1789 to maintain law and order in the colony. The new structure of the 'civil police' was more formal than that of the night watch, with each region under the control of local magistrates. Police officers were initially still selected from the best behaved former convicts however. The number of regions was increased at the same time, enabling police jurisdiction to be extended as far as Toongabbie, the Hawkesbury and Parramatta.

In January 1811 the organisation was again restructured with the introduction by Macquarie of the new role of Police Superintendent. Often referred to in secondary sources as the Sydney Foot Police in order to differentiate it from the other specialist police forces that developed like the Mounted Police and Water Police, this does not appear to have ever been an official title of the department. The separate forces were united in 1862 with the Police Regulation Act of 1862 and the establishment of the New South Wales Police Force.

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Night watch

Early police force established by Governor Phillip in 1789 to patrol the town of Sydney during the night in order to prevent and detect 'the commission of nightly depredations'. It consisted of twelve of the 'best behaved' former convicts, with the town divided into four regions. In 1796 the watch, or 'civil police', was reorganised by Governor Hunter so that constables in each region became answerable to a local magistrate. The number of regions was also increased and extended to include the Hawkesbury, Parramatta and Toongabbie.

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Bladders, William

Former convict who had been transported for burglary but became a constable in Sydney's early police force. He was one of several suspects in the murder of another police officer, Joseph Luker, in August 1803 but was found not guilty due to lack of evidence. He was also known as William Hambridge, Ambridge or Embridge.

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Freeman, James

Convict who arrived on the First Fleet and became the colony's first official executioner for the duration of his sentence when offered the role in lieu of his own execution.

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Howard, Robert Rice

Robert 'Nosey Bob' Howard was the New South Wales public hangman from 1876 until his retirement in 1904. He acted as assistant executioner several times prior to his official permanent appointment. Howard had been a successful hansom cab driver who was popular with his wealthy Darling Harbour clientele (it was rumoured that he had been the preferred cab driver for Prince Alfred during his visit to Sydney in 1868), but after being kicked in the head by one of his horses and losing his nose, his disfigured appearance deterred his former patrons and his business failed. He moved from Paddington with his family to Bondi Beach in 1888 and lived there until his death in 1906.

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Smyth, Thomas

Marine on the First Fleet who took up land on Sydney's southern boundary. A storekeeper since 1792, he was appointed as Provost Marshal in February 1796. He died suddenly in 1804 while visiting the Hawkesbury and was described as 'universally respected for his humanity in acquitting himself of the duties of his office; the generosity and benevolence of his heart; the affability of his manners, and the placidity of his disposition'.

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