Glasgow Police Act 1800
Encyclopedia
The Glasgow Police Act 1800 was an Act of Parliament
passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom
, which established a professional police force for the city of Glasgow
. Under the Act, this police force was placed under the control of the Lord Provost
, three magistrates and nine elected commissioners. The force was supported financially by a rate levied by the City Council on houses and businesses; the lack of such a levy had frustrated the previous attempt at having a professional police presence in the city.
The Act was a forerunner of similar Acts of Parliament establishing police forces in other Scottish cities and burghs, culminating in the Policing of Towns (Scotland) Act 1850 and the General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act 1862.
As well as making provision for the establishment of a police force, the Act also authorised the annexation of ninety-six acres of land surrounding the city.
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...
, which established a professional police force for the city of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. Under the Act, this police force was placed under the control of the Lord Provost
Lord Provost
A Lord Provost is the figurative and ceremonial head of one of the principal cities of Scotland. Four cities, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, have the right to appoint a Lord Provost instead of a provost...
, three magistrates and nine elected commissioners. The force was supported financially by a rate levied by the City Council on houses and businesses; the lack of such a levy had frustrated the previous attempt at having a professional police presence in the city.
The Act was a forerunner of similar Acts of Parliament establishing police forces in other Scottish cities and burghs, culminating in the Policing of Towns (Scotland) Act 1850 and the General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act 1862.
As well as making provision for the establishment of a police force, the Act also authorised the annexation of ninety-six acres of land surrounding the city.