British Columbia Provincial Police

The British Columbia Provincial Police (BCPP) was the policing body for the Canadian province of British Columbia until 1950. These forces pre-dated Canadian confederation, preceding the North West Mounted Police by fifteen years and the Ontario Provincial Police by seventeen years. The force is usually dated from the appointment of Chartres Brew in 1858 with the formation of the Colony of British Columbia and associated appointments. While Chartres Brew often signed his correspondence as either Chief Constable of the colony and Chief Inspector of Police for the new mainland colony in 1858, he was never in fact given this position; he was technically the Chief Gold Commissioner and later a Stipendary Magistrate. Douglas and the Colonial office had rejected forming a standing police force due to budgetary concerns; however, Douglas appointed Brew Gold Commissioner to strengthen the magisterial force of the new colony.“There was no way for Brew to realize the importance of his dual appointment.” As Gold Commissioner, Brew was armed with magisterial powers. Each magistrate was allowed to appoint six constables, constables were to act as clerks, recorders, collectors, and postmasters, and the result was they became integrated into the colonial administration. "Since the constabulary remained the most consistent government presence in the most isolated regions, some constables continued to have several titles and responsibilities, including assessor and tax collector, registrar of births, deaths and marriages, returning officer, government agent and notary public. They were also expected to collect license [sic] fees, make weather reports, gather vital statistics, check cattle brands, test new drivers; in other words, perform any task the provincial government asked of them. In the process, Provincials became well-known members of the community, on a first-name basis with many residents." Brew had served with Royal Irish Constabulary in County Cork, Ireland, before being sent to British Columbia to assist in stabilizing the situation there, beset as it was by well-armed Americans in the gold fields and the accompanying risk of annexation.

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