This is a translation of the

lOI (1853) AU SUJET DES CENTENIERS ET OFFICIERS DE POLICE

 

 

 (Chapter 23.050)

as in force on 1 January 2019 

This is not an authoritative translation of the Law. Whilst it is believed to be correct, no warranty is given that it is free of errors or omissions or that it is an accurate translation of the French text. Accordingly, no liability is accepted for any loss arising from its use.

Law (1853) on the subject of Centeniers and police officers

2

(1)  If a Centenier dies or is relieved of his or her functions before the end of his or her term of office, an election shall be held to replace that Centenier; but thereafter the Centenier so elected shall only remain in office until the expiry of the term of office of the preceding Centenier.

(2)  If, for whatever reason, the election of a Centenier is postponed to another date, the term of office of the Centenier eventually elected shall come to an end on the same date as it would have come to an end had the election not been postponed.

3

Constable's Officers shall be elected at the Parish Assembly by the inhabitants of the Parish.

4       

The electors shall choose as follows –

 

In St. Helier: the electors

of the Canton de Haut de la Vingtaine de la Ville, 6 officers;

of the Canton de Bas de la même Vingtaine, 5;

of the Vingtaine de Bas du Mont-au-Prêtre, 5;

of the Vingtaine de Haut du Mont-au-Prêtre, 3;

of Rouge Bouillon, 5; of Mont-à-l’Abbé, 3;

of Mont Cochon, 3.

 

In St. Saviour: the electors of the Vingtaines

of Pigneaux and of Grande Longueville, 4 Officers;

of Petite Longueville, 6;

of Sous l’Eglise, 6;

of Maufant and of Sous-la-Hougue, 4.

 

In St. Clément: the electors of the Vingtaines

of La Grande-Vingtaine, 5;

of Le Roquier, 2;

and of Samarès, 9.

 

In St. Peter: the electors of the Vingtaines

of St. Nicolas, 5;

of Le Douet, 4;

of La Grande Vingtaine, 3;

of Les Augerez, 3;

and of Le Coin Varin, 2.

 

In St. Brelade: the electors of the Vingtaines

of Noirmont, 6;

of Le Coin, 6;

of Les Quennevais, 7;

and of La Moye, 5.

 

In St. Lawrence: the electors of the Vingtaines

of Le Haut de La Vallée, 3;

of Le Bas de La Vallée, 3;

of Le Coin Motier, 3;

of Le Coin Hâtain, 2;

of Le Coin Tourgis Nord, 2;

and of Le Coin Tourgis Sud, 2.

 

In Grouville: the electors of the Vingtaines

of Le Marais, 4;

of La Rue, 2;

of Longueville, 3;

and of La Roque, 3.

 

In  St. Ouen: the electors of

la Petite Cueillette, 2;

la Grande Cueillette, 1;

Grantez, 1;

Millais, 3;

Vinchelez, 2;

and of Léoville, 3.

 

In St. Mary: the electors of the

Vingtaine du Sud, 7; and

and of Vingtaine du Nord, 5.

 

In St. John: the electors of the Vingtaines

of Le Nord, 6;

of Le Douet, 3;

and of Hérupe, 3.

 

In St. Martin: the electors of the Vingtaines

of Rozel, 4;

of La Quéruée, 2;

of Faldouet, 4;

of l’Eglise, 1;

and of Le Fief de la Reine, 1.

 

In Trinity: the electors of the Vingtaines

of Le Rondin, 3;

of Les Augrès, 2;

of La Ville à l’Evêque, 3;

of La Croiserie, 1;

and of Rozel, 3.

5       

All elections for Constable’s Officers shall take place in the course of 3 months after the confirmation of this Law.  Elections to replace the Officers so chosen shall take place when they have served for the period required by law or upon the death of such officers.

6       

The existing Laws relating to the oath required to be taken by Centeniers and Constable’s Officers, and to the duties and rights of these public officials, shall apply to the Centeniers and Constable’s Officers elected as hereinbefore provided, and shall continue to govern these Offices.

7       

Where a complaint is made to a Centenier of a Parish that a crime or misdemeanour[2] has been committed, the Centenier may require the complainant to take oath before the Bailiff or a Jurat concerning the facts within his or her knowledge, and on which his or her complaint is founded.

8       

The Centenier may equally require a witness, who has knowledge of any facts in support of the information that the Centenier has received, to appear before the Bailiff or a Jurat to take oath and depose to the facts within his or her knowledge.

9       

Declarations on oath made by the complainant or by witnesses shall be taken down in writing, and signed after having been read by the person taking the oath.

11     

Any person who knowingly makes a false declaration on oath, or solemnly affirms or declares something which is false, in the cases mentioned in the preceding Articles, shall be guilty of perjury, and shall be punished as such by the Royal Court.

12     

If a complaint is not supported by oath on the part of the complainant or a witness, the Centenier to whom the complaint is addressed shall not be required to take cognisance thereof.

13     

Vingteniers and Constable’s Officers may, in cases of flagrant délit, perform all acts and arrests within the competence of Centeniers, but they must inform one of the Centeniers of the Parish without delay of having done so.

A crime or misdemeanour[3] in the course of being committed, or which has just been committed, is a flagrant délit.

The following shall also be taken to be flagrant délit: cases where the suspect is pursued by public outcry[4], and where the suspect is found in possession of effects, arms, instruments, or papers, tending to show that he or she is the principal offender or accomplice, provided that this is soon after the offence.

15     

The Connétable de St. Helier shall have an office in a central part of the Town of St. Helier, for the carrying out of Police business, and generally of all business associated with the role of the Connétable.

16     

The costs of the office shall be regulated by the Parish Assembly, and met out of the parish rates.