Police Oath

It is usual for Police officers take an oath 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 Kong

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.

Ireland

English form

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— :-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 [http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/home.html Irish Statute Book] website.

New Zealand

Section 37 of the Police Act 1958 prescribes an oath in the following form:-

“I, A.B., do swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen in the Police, without favour or affection, malice or ill-will, until I am legally discharged; that I will see and cause Her Majesty's peace to be kept and preserved; that I will prevent to the best of my power all offences against the peace; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law. So help me God.”

The Oaths Modernisation Bill [http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpprint/docs/bills/20052641.txt The Knowledge Basket - LegislationNZ - Oaths Modernisation Bill (10 May 2005 No 264-1)] (laid 2005, in progress 29 Mar 2007) proposes the following new versions:- English form "I, [name] , swear that I will faithfully and diligently serve Her (or His) Majesty [specify the name of the reigning Sovereign, as in: Queen Elizabeth the Second] , Queen (or King) of New Zealand, her (or his) heirs and successors, in the Police, without favour or affection, malice or ill will, until I am lawfully discharged. While in the Police 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. " Maori form "Tenei au, a [ingoa] , e ki taurangi nei, ka rato pirihonga, urupu hoki ahau i a Ia Arikinui [tohua te ingoa o te Arikinui kei runga i te torona, pera ki a Kuini Irihapeti te Tuarua] , Kuini (Kingi ranei) o Niu Tireni, me ona uri whakaheke, i roto i te Kahui Pirihimana, i roto i te kore tautoko, kore aroha ranei, kore mahi kino, kore whakaaro kino ranei, tae rawa ki te wa ka tukua pateatia ahau e te ture. I te wa kei roto ahau i te Kahui Pirihimana, ka pokaikaha ahau ki te hohou i te rongo me te kaupare atu i nga mahi kotikoti i te rongo, a, i roto i oku tino pukenga me oku mohio, ka whakatutuki i nga mahi kua whakaritea hei mahi ma te pirihimana e ai ki te ture. No reira, awhina mai i ahau e te Atua."

United Kingdom

In legislation in the UK, an oath taken by a constable is described as an "Attestation" and annotated as such in a relevant Act.

England and Wales

The Police Reform Act 2002 requires the constable of a territorial police force to take the following oath: [http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=Act+(UK+Public+General)&title=police&Year=1996&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&sortAlpha=0&TYPE=QS&PageNumber=1&NavFrom=0&parentActiveTextDocId=2729388&ActiveTextDocId=3444495&filesize=874]

English form

"I, .. .. of .. .. do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against people and property; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law."

Welsh form

"Rwyf i...o...yn datgan ac yn cadarnhau yn ddifrifol ac yn ddiffuant y byddaf yn gwasanaethu'r Frenhines yn dda ac yn gywir yn fy swydd o heddwas (heddferch), yn deg, yn onest, yn ddiwyd ac yn ddiduedd, gan gynnal hawliau dynol sylfaenol a chan roddi'r un parch i bob person; ac y byddaf i, hyd eithaf fy ngallu, yn achosi i'r heddwch gael ei gadw a'i ddiogelu ac yn atal pob trosedd yn erbyn pobl ac eiddo; a thra byddaf yn parhau i ddal y swydd ddywededig y byddaf i, hyd eithaf fy sgil a'm gwybodaeth, yn cyflawni'r holl ddyletswyddau sy'n gysylltiedig â hi yn ffyddlon yn unol â'r gyfraith."

cotland

No specific words are prescribed within current Scottish police legislation [http://www.justice.org.nz/pubs/reports/2004/oaths-review/part_d2.htm New Zealand Ministry of Justice, Review of Oatha and Affirmations, Paragraph 8.3 "Overseas Comparisons".] . Section 16 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 merely requires that "A person appointed to the office of constable in a police force shall on appointment make, before a sheriff (or justice of the peace), a declaration in such terms as may be prescribed concerning the proper discharge of the duties of the office."The oath is typically given in the form:-

"I hereby do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Constable/Special Constable." [http://www.fife.police.uk/pdf/police_application_form.pdf Scottish Police Service - Application Form]

Constables of the British Transport Police attested in Scotland are required by the Railways and Transport Act 2003 to use the same words.

Northern Ireland

Section 38 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 prescribes the words:-"I hereby do solemnly and sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all individuals and their traditions and beliefs; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof according to law."

References