Constable - Law Dictionary Search Results
Home Dictionary Name: constableConstable
Constable [fr. Comes stabuli, Lat., in the eastern empire a superintendent of the imperial stables, or the emperor's master of the horse, who at length obtained the command of the army], an officer to whom our law commits the duty of maintaining the peace, and bringing to justice those by whom it is infringed.Provision is made for the abolition of the office of High Constable by the (English) High Constables Act, 1869 (32 & 33 Vict. c. 67), and of that of Parish Constable by the Parish Constables Act, 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 92), which Act, however, still allows of their appointment in exceptional cases.By the (English) Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, s. 191, in all boroughs to which that Act applies, 'borough constables' are appointed by the Watch Committee, but the (English) Local Government Act,1888, has, in the case of boroughs having a population of less than 10,000 transferred the appointments to the county councils.In counties constables were appointed by the justices of the pe...
Special constables
Special constables, persons appointed by justices of the peace to assist in keeping the peace 'on the oath of a credible witness that any tumult, riot, or felony has taken place or may be reasonably apprehended in any parish, township, or place,' if the justices are of opinion that the ordinary constables are insufficient for that purpose. See Special Constables Act, 1831, s. 8 of which imposes a penalty for each refusal to serve when duly called upon, while s. 2 allows a Secretary of State to order persons to be sworn in though exempt by law, and s. 196 of the (English) Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, by which borough justices 'shall appoint in October in every year so many as they may think fit of the inhabitants of the borough, not legally exempt from serving the office of constable, to act as special constables in the borough.' There are also Acts of 1835 and 1838 dealing with the subject.By the (English) Special Constables Act, 1914, as amended by the (English) Special Constable...
High Constable
High Constable, abolished by the High Constables Act, 1869 (32 & 33 Vict. c. 47). See CONSTABLE....
Petty Constables
Petty Constables, inferior officers is every town and parish, subordinate to the high constable of the hundred. See CONSTABLE....
Constable, relevant (aerodrome)
Constable, relevant (aerodrome), means any constable under the direction and control of the chief officer of police for the relevant police area; Aviation Security Act, 1982, s. 31(1) (UK) Halsbury's Laws of England, Vol. 2, para 1239, p. 606....
constable
constable [Old French conestable military commander, chief of the royal household, from Late Latin comes stabuli, literally, officer of the stable] : a public officer usually of a town or township responsible for keeping the peace and for minor judicial duties ...
High Constable of England, Lord
High Constable of England, Lord. His office has been disused (except only upon great and solemn occasions, as the coronation, or the like) since the attainder of Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, in the reign of Henry VII. See CHIVALRY, Court of....
Parish Constables
Parish Constables. See CONTABLES, and 35 & 36 Vict. c. 92, by which provision is made for their abolition....
Vice-Constable of England
Vice-Constable of England, an ancient officer in the time of Edward the Fourth....
Hue and Cry
Hue and Cry [fr. huer, Fr. to shout; crier, to cry aloud; hutesium et clamor, Lat.], the old common law process of pursuing with horn and voice felons and such as have dangerously wounded another. It may be raised by constables, or private persons, or both. If the constable or peace officer concur in the pursuit, he has the same power, etc., as if acting under a magistrate's warrant. All who join in a hue and cry, whether a constable be present or not, are justified in the apprehension of the person pur-sued, though it turn out that he is innocent; and where he takes refuge in a house, may break open the door, if admittance be refused; and by the Sheriffs Act, 1887 (50 & 51 Vict. c. 55), re-enacting 3 Edw. 1, c. 9, 'Every person in a county must be ready and appareled at the command of the sheriff, and at the cry of the country to arrest a felon,' and in default 'shall on conviction be liable to a fine.' But if a man wantonly or maliciously raise a hue and cry, he is liable to fine and...
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