Archives In Brief 20 - Police service records

Historical Background

In August 1789, Arthur Phillip established a night-watch which came under civil control. It consisted of eight of the best-behaved convicts in the Colony. This was the first Police force in the country.

The force was re-organised along English lines by Governor Hunter in 1796, with constables being placed under the control of local magistrates. It remained this way, until Governor Macquarie's time, when a certain degree of centralised control was achieved in January 1811 with the appointment of a Police Superintendent.

As the Colony expanded and the population grew a number of specialised forces were established. These included a Water Police force which was set up in Sydney c.1832, abolished in 1843 and re-established with the appointment of a Water Police Magistrate in 1847; the Native Police corps which operated mainly in northern New South Wales from 1848; and the Border Police, who were responsible to the Commissioners of Crown Lands for policing the land regulations in the remote Squatting Districts.

The most important of these specialised forces was the Mounted Police, which had the responsibility of protecting settlers in outlying areas as well as goods in transit on the roads. It was abolished in 1850. A Gold Escort was formed a year later in 1851 to provide safe passage for gold being transported from the diggings to Sydney.

Unification of the Police force did not come about until the Police Regulation Act of 1862. This Act placed the responsibility of the whole Police force into the hands of the Inspector General and it was organised largely along the lines of its present day basis.

A select list of sources

This list is not exhaustive. Researchers should also consult:

• Archives Investigator, under Agency No. 9, Inspector General of Police and Agency No. 12 NSW Police Service. Records described include police service records, correspondence, and publications. Records of police stations are listed individually
• Short Guide 10: Professions and Occupations - arranged alphabetically by profession
• Index to Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825.

To locate the early records of the Police Service consult the index under the term 'Police'. Correspondence relating to appointments, reports, applications, pay lists and other general police information from the early years of the Colony is listed. Researchers should also consult the index under the name of the individual.

Colonial Secretary

These records contain the names of police officers working in both Sydney and country areas. In some instances numbers rather than names of constables are given.

NRS 906, Special bundles  
* Blue Books: NSW Civil Establishment, Police, 1825, 1831 [4/7419]
* Blue Books: NSW Civil Establishment, Returns of Police 1833-35, 1837-43; 1844-49; 1850-53; 1854-56
Reels 1720-1723

Index to the Colonial Secretary's Correspondence, Convicts and Others, 1826-94
On fiche in the reading rooms
This indexes Colonial Secretary: Main series of letters received, 1826-88, NRS 905. The index may be of use to researchers interested in police officers serving during the 1840s-60s.

NSW Police Service

It is important to note that records of the NSW Police Service do not generally provide the details of a particular police station where a police officer was working. Records will provide with the name of the district in which a policeman was working.

NRS 10946, Police salary registers, 1838-1915
Reels 1970-1974
These registers provide the following: register number, name, rank, salary details and remarks (this column usually notes promotions, dismissals or resignations).

NRS 10943, Registers of police appointments, c.1857-1913
Reel 3043
This series is arranged alphabetically by surname and provides: service number, name, mounted or foot, date of birth, physical description, native place, marital status, calling, district, date of appointment and date and cause of leaving the force. See the online index.

NRS 10945, Registers of police, 1862-1904 *ARK
Reels 2657 and 1974, Fiche 846-850
* 1866-May 1913 [8/3255-58]
Reels 3044-3047 
These registers provide details such as: date of appointment, age, physical description, marital status, native country, religion, education, previous occupation and where stationed. They also include demotions, discharges, deaths, and superannuation.

NRS 10944, Registers of pensions, Nov 1851-Jan 1907
Reels 3048 & 2658 
Information provided includes: name, rank, district, gratuity or pension, and amount.

NRS 10942, Register of appointments, promotions, dismissals and retirements, 1855-61
Reel 2657
Details include: name, physical description, marital status, trade/calling, date of appointments and previous Colonial government service.

Police service cards, 1913-c.1986 [AK724]
This series provides details such as: name, date of birth, physical description, previous calling, marital status, examinations and qualifications, district and station, duty, and cause and date of leaving the force.

NRS 10950, Police service registers 1927-80 [11/11767-77, 6/20576-609]   
These registers relate specifically to those officers who left the Police Department between the years 1966-80 (some joining the Force as early as 1927).
Details provided include: appointment and promotions, personal descriptions, previous calling, examinations, medical history, uniforms and equipment issued, duties, misconducts and commendations, and special abilities and qualifications. They relate not only to police officers but also to Junior Trainees, Cadets, Special Constables, Trackers, Matrons, and Parking Police.

Mounted Police

Colonial Secretary

NRS 906, Returns of Mounted Police, 1837-50 [4/7420, 4/7205]

NRS 906, Returns of the Gold Escort, 1851-56 [4/7423]   

NSW Police Service

NRS 10998, Record of offences by members of the Mounted Police Corps, 1839-50
Reels 2901, 3041

NRS 10999, Nominal Roll of the Mounted Police Corps, 1848
Reels 2901, 3041

NRS 11000, Orders to Mounted Troops, Jul 1841-Sep 1850
Reel 2901

NRS 11001, Mounted Police Adjutant's Office Sydney: Copies of letters sent, Jan 1842-Sep 1846
Reel 2901 

Water Police

Colonial Secretary

NRS 906, Special bundles
* Returns of Water Police, 1841-44, 1847-56 [4/7425, 2/8022, 2/8028]

Border Police

Colonial Secretary

NRS 906, Special bundles
* Border Police: reports on conduct and employment, 1842 [4/1132]
* Commissioners of Crown Lands. Reports and returns of Border Police — Portland Bay, New England and Clarence River districts, 1843-46 [4/1139.1]
* Commissioners of Crown Lands. Reports and returns of Border Police — Darling Downs and McLeay River districts, 1843-46 [4/1138.1]
* Commissioner of Crown Lands, Bligh District. Reports re Border Police, 1843-47 [4/7204]
* Commissioners of Crown Lands. Reports on Border Police in the various districts, 1843-47 [4/1141.1]
* Returns of Border Police, 1845-46 [4/7321]

Police Gazettes

Information relating to policemen may also be located in the publication NRS 10958 Police Gazettes.

This is a printed publication issued on a regular basis to Police stations. Its purpose is to provide a means of communication between the members of the police force and it contains information such as wanted criminals, crimes committed, missing persons and criminals who have been apprehended.

Police Gazettes also contain information relating to Police officers. There are several supplements to the Police Gazettes. Supplement A provides information about Police officers such as vacant positions, appointments, promotions, and administrative arrangements. The years 1862-99 are copied onto Reels 3129-3143 and 1900-1930 are on reels 3594-3606. Police Gazettes are also held by the State Library NSW.

Further information

For further reading see:

• Daniel P Webster, Beyond courage: the circumstances of New South Wales police officers who have lost their lives. Sydney: New South Wales Police Association, 2004.

Access

Researchers should consult the Register of Access Directions to confirm the public availability of records. State Records' staff can advise you on the availability of records if they are not listed on the register.

*ARK signifies that a copy of the record or guide is part of the Archives Resources Kit and is held by the community access points.

© State of New South Wales through the State Records Authority, 2003.
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