Police Oath
Encyclopedia
It is usual for Police officers take an oath
to uphold the law. The following is a selection from different countries.
I, .. .. (swear by Almighty God/ do solemnly and sincerely declare) that I will well and faithfully serve the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region according to law as a police officer, that I will obey uphold and maintain the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region that I will execute the powers and duties of my office honestly, faithfully and diligently without fear of or favour to any person and with malice or ill-will toward none, and that I will obey without question all lawful orders of those set in authority over me.
Section 16(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 requires each member of the Garda Síochána
to make the following Solemn declaration when they are appointed :-
"I hereby solemnly and sincerely declare before God that—
Section 16(2) allows the words “before God” to be omitted from the declaration at the request of the declarant.
Irish form
Provision to make the above declaration in Irish is not made within the above Act. As of 3 Jul 2008 the translated version is not yet available on the Irish Statute Book website.
“English form
“I, [name], swear that I will faithfully and diligently serve Her (or His) Majesty [specify the name of the reigning Sovereign], Queen (or King) of New Zealand, her (or his) heirs and successors, without favour or affection, malice or ill-will. While a constable I will, to the best of my power, keep the peace and prevent offences against the peace, and will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, perform all the duties of the office of constable according to law. So help me God.
“Māori form
“Tēnei au, a [ingoa], e kī taurangi nei, ka rato pirihonga, urupū hoki ahau i Te Arikinui, a [tohua te ingoa o te Arikinui kei runga i te torona], Kuini (Kīngi rānei) o Niu Tīreni, me ōna uri whakaheke, i roto i te kore tautoko, kore aroha rānei, kore mahi kino, kore whakaaro kino rānei. I ahau e pirihimana ana ka pōkaikaha ahau ki te hohou i te rongo me te kaupare atu i ngā mahi kotikoti i te rongo, ā, i roto i ōku tino pūkenga me ōku mōhio, ka whakatutuki i ngā mahi kua whakaritea hei mahi mā te pirihimana e ai ki te ture. Nō reira, āwhina mai i ahau e te Atua.”
s in England and Wales are responsible for general policing. Members of the police forces are attested under section 29 of the Police Act 1996
. The prescribed form of words is that given by schedule 4 to the Act (inserted by section 83 of the Police Reform Act 2002
), as follows:
English
Welsh
"... attested as a constable by making a declaration before a justice of the peace that he will duly execute the office of constable." with no specific words prescribed in the Act. The only constables still attested under this Act are those of Kew Constabulary. The Royal Parks Constabulary
, whose officers were formerly attested under this Act, was disbanded in 2003.
Constables obtaining their powers from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Provisional Order Confirmation (Greater London Parks and Open Spaces) Act 1967 are required to be attested in accordance with that Act. These include staff employed to protect parks in individual boroughs in Greater London. Examples include the Wandsworth Parks Police
and the Hampstead Heath Constabulary.
"in such terms as may be prescribed". The words prescribed by the Police (Scotland) Regulations 2004 are as follows:
The wording was first given statutory effect under the Police (Scotland) Act 1857
and remains largely similar to that form.
are attested under section 38 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000
. The terms are prescribed by that section, and are as follows:
to make different attestations/declarations depending on where they are appointed. In England & Wales, BTP constables take the same oath as prescribed by the Police Act 1996 for a territorial police constable, and in Scotland make the same declaration that as prescribed under the Police (Scotland) Regulations 2004 for a territorial police constable. The location of the declaration/attestation, and the words used, make no difference to the extent of the constable's jurisdiction.
Members of the Ministry of Defence Police
are required - as with BTP constables - to take the oath that a territorial police constable would in the country in which they are attested. The same applies to members of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary
, though in Scotland they are required to only make a "declaration faithfully to execute the duties of the office of a member of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary".
Oath
An oath is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow...
to uphold the law. The following is a selection from different countries.
Hong Kong
English version according to Chapter 232, schedule 1, Laws of Hong KongI, ..
Ireland
English formSection 16(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 requires each member of the Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
to make the following Solemn declaration when they are appointed :-
"I hereby solemnly and sincerely declare before God that—
- -I will faithfully discharge the duties of a member of the Garda Síochána with fairness, integrity, regard for human rights, diligence and impartiality, upholding the Constitution and the laws and according equal respect to all people,
- -while I continue to be a member, I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all my duties according to law, and
- -I do not belong to, and will not while I remain a member form, belong to or subscribe to, any political party or secret society whatsoever.”.
Section 16(2) allows the words “before God” to be omitted from the declaration at the request of the declarant.
Irish form
Provision to make the above declaration in Irish is not made within the above Act. As of 3 Jul 2008 the translated version is not yet available on the Irish Statute Book website.
New Zealand
Section 22 of the Policing Act 2008 prescribes an oath in the following form:-“English form
“I, [name], swear that I will faithfully and diligently serve Her (or His) Majesty [specify the name of the reigning Sovereign], Queen (or King) of New Zealand, her (or his) heirs and successors, without favour or affection, malice or ill-will. While a constable I will, to the best of my power, keep the peace and prevent offences against the peace, and will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, perform all the duties of the office of constable according to law. So help me God.
“Māori form
“Tēnei au, a [ingoa], e kī taurangi nei, ka rato pirihonga, urupū hoki ahau i Te Arikinui, a [tohua te ingoa o te Arikinui kei runga i te torona], Kuini (Kīngi rānei) o Niu Tīreni, me ōna uri whakaheke, i roto i te kore tautoko, kore aroha rānei, kore mahi kino, kore whakaaro kino rānei. I ahau e pirihimana ana ka pōkaikaha ahau ki te hohou i te rongo me te kaupare atu i ngā mahi kotikoti i te rongo, ā, i roto i ōku tino pūkenga me ōku mōhio, ka whakatutuki i ngā mahi kua whakaritea hei mahi mā te pirihimana e ai ki te ture. Nō reira, āwhina mai i ahau e te Atua.”
United Kingdom
In legislation in the UK, an oath taken by a constable in England and Wales or in Northern Ireland is described as an "Attestation" and annotated as such in a relevant Act. In Scotland a constable is required to make a "declaration".Territorial police constables
The 43 territorial police forceTerritorial police force
The phrase Territorial Police Force varies in precise meaning according to the country to which it is related, generally distinguishing a force whose area of responsibility is defined by sub-national boundaries from others which deal with the entire country or a restricted range of...
s in England and Wales are responsible for general policing. Members of the police forces are attested under section 29 of the Police Act 1996
Police Act 1996
The Police Act 1996 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which defined the current police areas, constituted the current police authorities and set out the relationship between the Home Secretary and the territorial police forces. It replaced the Police and Magistrates Courts Act...
. The prescribed form of words is that given by schedule 4 to the Act (inserted by section 83 of the Police Reform Act 2002
Police Reform Act 2002
The Police Reform Act 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.Amongst the provisions of the Act are the creation of the role of Police Community Support Officer, who have some police powers whilst not being 'sworn in' constables, and the ability for Chief Constables to confer a more...
), as follows:
English
Welsh
Park constables
Constables obtaining their powers from the Parks Regulation Act 1872 are required to be"... attested as a constable by making a declaration before a justice of the peace that he will duly execute the office of constable." with no specific words prescribed in the Act. The only constables still attested under this Act are those of Kew Constabulary. The Royal Parks Constabulary
Royal Parks Constabulary
The Royal Parks Constabulary was the police force formerly responsible for the Royal Parks in London and a number of other locations in Greater London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland; it now only exists in Scotland as part of Historic Scotland....
, whose officers were formerly attested under this Act, was disbanded in 2003.
Constables obtaining their powers from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Provisional Order Confirmation (Greater London Parks and Open Spaces) Act 1967 are required to be attested in accordance with that Act. These include staff employed to protect parks in individual boroughs in Greater London. Examples include the Wandsworth Parks Police
Wandsworth Parks Police
Wandsworth Parks Police is the name given to the body of Constables run by Wandsworth Borough Council since 1984, and which is primarily concerned in patrolling parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Wandsworth to enforce by-laws and other enactments relating to parks and open spaces...
and the Hampstead Heath Constabulary.
Scotland
Constables are attested under section 16 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967Police (Scotland) Act 1967
The Police Act 1967 is an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament which provides the current framework within which the territorial police forces in Scotland operate...
"in such terms as may be prescribed". The words prescribed by the Police (Scotland) Regulations 2004 are as follows:
The wording was first given statutory effect under the Police (Scotland) Act 1857
Police (Scotland) Act 1857
The Police Act 1857 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The legislation made the establishment of a police force mandatory in the counties of Scotland, and also allowed existing burgh police forces to be consolidated with a county force.-Establishment of County Police Forces:The...
and remains largely similar to that form.
Northern Ireland
Police officers of the Police Service of Northern IrelandPolice Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
are attested under section 38 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000
Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000
The Police Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The act renamed the Royal Ulster Constabulary to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, created the Northern Ireland Policing Board and District Police Partnerships.-External links:*, as originally enacted, from the Office of...
. The terms are prescribed by that section, and are as follows:
Other constables
Constables & special constables of the British Transport Police are required by sections 24 & 25 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003
The Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 is an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament-Purposes of the Act:The purposes of the Act include:-*the creation of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch...
to make different attestations/declarations depending on where they are appointed. In England & Wales, BTP constables take the same oath as prescribed by the Police Act 1996 for a territorial police constable, and in Scotland make the same declaration that as prescribed under the Police (Scotland) Regulations 2004 for a territorial police constable. The location of the declaration/attestation, and the words used, make no difference to the extent of the constable's jurisdiction.
Members of the Ministry of Defence Police
Ministry of Defence Police
The Ministry of Defence Police is a civilian police force which is part of the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence. The force is part of the larger government agency, the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency , together with the Ministry of Defence Guard Service...
are required - as with BTP constables - to take the oath that a territorial police constable would in the country in which they are attested. The same applies to members of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary
Civil Nuclear Constabulary
The Civil Nuclear Constabulary is a special police force responsible for providing law enforcement and security at civil nuclear installations, and for nuclear materials in transit, throughout the United Kingdom....
, though in Scotland they are required to only make a "declaration faithfully to execute the duties of the office of a member of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary".