Royal Bahamas Police Force

The Royal Bahamas Police Force is the national law agency of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The RBPF is operates within the portfolio of the Ministry of National Security. The police force was established on 1 March 1840. The Force is headquartered on East Street Hill in Nassau, New Providence.

From the early eighteenth century to the latter part of the nineteenth century, the development of policing generally followed the pattern of policing in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. During the first half of this period, men were appointed as constables to assist in the enforcement of government rules and regulations, and the apprehension of offenders. A Night Guard was also assigned to protect the town of Nassau, capital of the British Crown Colony of the Bahamas, during the night. As early as 1729, there was a constable in New Providence. However, his duties seem not to have been as broad and well defined as the police constable of today. This constable was attached to the local Magistrate, Justices of the Peace and several other Government officials.

In 1799, an Act of the General Assembly (now called Parliament) declared that all constables would have the same powers as their counterparts in Great Britain. They were then allowed to arrest on suspicion of crime as opposed to only after the crime had been committed. In 1827, the Assembly stipulated their mode of appointment. It is evident that during this period, only one constable was appointed to serve at a time in each district. These appointments were made by the serving Magistrate with the assistance of two Justices of the Peace.

As time passed and crime increased, a small number of constables were appointed to serve at the same time. However, they were never organised as a formal police force. Each was responsible to the Magistrate in a particular district. It is interesting to note that this system of constables has evolved into the District and Local Constables of today.

...
Wikipedia