An Early French Force
| Author | W. H. Gillespie |
| Published date | 01 July 1948 |
| Date | 01 July 1948 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X4802100312 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
AN EARLY
FRENCH
FORCE
235
in
the
purchase by members of the various messes and canteens of
additional items to supplement the rations. All stations have recreation
rooms fitted with easy chairs, radio sets, indoor games, etc., where
members can spend their off-duty time if they so desire.
Outdoor sports of every description, particularly football, basket-
ball and swimming, are encouraged, and Police teams have performed
very creditably in matches with local teams. Physical training under a
skilled instructor is available, and many members of the Force volun-
tarily avail themselves of this facility in keeping themselves fit.
It
is
hoped shortly to commence classes in ju-jitsu.
The
Force has its own
welfare fund, which is supported by voluntary contributions from the
members, etc.
This
fund is administered by a committee of all ranks,
who receive and examine all requests for grants in cases of distress.
An
Early French Force
By W. H.
GILLESPIE
Gold
Coast
Police
THE British Police like to think that they have set an example which
the Forces of the world have copied. Tracing their history back
from Scotland Yard to Bow Street, and thence by way of
the
Statute
of Winchester to the Saxon Tythings, they overlook how much they
have copied and borrowed from other countries, in particular from
France, in this as in many other practices of civilisation.
When in England the preservation of the peace was entrusted to
constables elected from the community for a year, and paupers were
appointed watchmen as a form of out-relief; when the legislature,
vainly endeavouring to check the rising tide of crime, yearly increased
the number of capital offences and London was the unsafest capital
in Europe, France was policed by a uniformed and disciplined force.
An anonymous Englishman residing in Paris marked the contrast, and
in 1763, under the
motto'
Fas est ab hoste doceri,' *
published'
The
Police of France,' with the avowed intention of holding up an example
to his own land.
The
institutions he described, being those of a state with a strong
central government, differed in almost every respect from those of
England.
The
preservation of the peace was, in practice as well as in
theory, a royal responsibility and was entrusted to officers appointed
and controlled by the king, who, in France, was
the
actual ruler and
not a mere figurehead.
The
force, known as the Marechaussee, had
been founded as long ago as 1356, and, under the Constable of France,
* ,
It
is
right
to be
taught
by an
enemy.'
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