The Cape Peninsula Urban Police was an official civilian

law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...

body that provided policing in and around

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

from 1652 to 1913. It was run by the

Dutch East India Company The United East India Company ( ; VOC ), commonly known as the Dutch East India Company, was a chartered company, chartered trading company and one of the first joint-stock companies in the world. Established on 20 March 1602 by the States Ge ...

during the period of the

Dutch Cape Colony The Cape of Good Hope () was a Dutch United East India Company (VOC) supplystation in Southern Africa, centered on the Cape of Good Hope, from where it derived its name. The original supply station and the successive states that the area was ...

and by the local colonial government for most of the period of the

British Cape Colony The Cape Colony (), also known as the Cape of Good Hope, was a British colony in present-day South Africa named after the Cape of Good Hope. It existed from 1795 to 1802, and again from 1806 to 1910, when it united with three other colonies ...

. It was ultimately absorbed into the

South African Police The South African Police (SAP) was the national police force and law enforcement agency in South Africa from 1913 to 1994; it was the ''de facto'' police force in the territory of South West Africa (Namibia) from 1939 to 1981. After South Af ...

in 1914 following the formation of the

Union of South Africa The Union of South Africa (; , ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day South Africa, Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the British Cape Colony, Cape, Colony of Natal, Natal, Tra ...

. In 2001 the Cape Town Metropolitan Police Department was established as a distinct police force from the national police by an act of the

Western Cape Provincial Parliament The Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP) is the legislature of the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is located at 7 Wale Street in Cape Town. The Provincial Parliament, along with the other provincial legislatures of South Africa, ...

to support the operations of the national policy service and enforce municipal by-laws. Thereby re-establishing a local police force in the

Cape peninsula The Cape Peninsula () of South Africa is a generally mountainous peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean at the south-western extremity of the African continent. At the southern end of the peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of Good ...

region.

1652–1840

Fiscal's law enforcement officers (1652–1840)

Formal law enforcement began shortly after the Dutch East India Company established its

Table Bay Table Bay (Afrikaans: ''Tafelbaai'') is a natural bay on the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by Cape Town and is at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, which stretches south to the Cape of Good Hope. It was named because it is dominated by the fl ...

outpost in April 1652. By December that year, there had been enough problems to warrant the appointment of a ''geweldiger'' to ensure order and the security of the

Fort de Goede Hoop The Fort of Good Hope ( Dutch: ''Ford de Goede Hoop'') was the first military building to be erected in what is now Cape Town. It was built in 1652, and was in use until 1674 when it was superseded by the Castle of Good Hope. History The ...

. Michiel Gleve was the first ''geweldiger''.Resolution of the Council of Policy (5 December 1652). From 1653, the ''geweldiger'' reported to the Fiscal, who was the outpost's chief law officer. The outpost began to develop into a colony in 1657. As the population grew, the ''geweldiger's'' duties increased, and by the mid-1680s he was assisted by a gang of convict slaves,Resolution of the Council of Policy (14 May 1686). An additional ''geweldiger'' was later appointed, and a third in 1776.Resolution of the Council of Policy (2 January 1776). In August 1780, after complaints about the geweldiger's convict slaves being sent to arrest Whites, the Van Plettenberg administration assigned a few White law enforcement officials, called ''geregtsdienaars'' to the Fiscal's staff.Resolution of the Council of Policy (22 August 1780). From 1790, the Fiscal's men were headed by an ''onder-schout'' (later called 'under-sheriff'). Jan Hendrik Matthysen was the first appointee.Resolution of the Council of Policy (13 March 1790).

Night watch (1686–1840)

From July 1686, the burgher councillors (who were responsible for looking after the town) employed watchmen to patrol the streets at night, when the fiscal's men were off duty.Resolutions of the Council of Policy (3 July 1686 and 11 September 1686). This system was followed until 1840. As the men were equipped with wooden rattles, to raise the alarm when necessary, they were known as the ''ratelwagt'' (rattle watch). Regulations issued in 1714 defined their duties as watching out for fire, public mischief, housebreaking, theft or other offences, uproars in taverns, and unlocked doors and windows.Resolution of the Council of Policy (9 January 1714). Under British rule, the ''ratelwagt'' became known as the 'night watch'. Control of the watch passed to the new Burgher Senate in 1796. From 1817, the watchmen were divided into two groups, headed by commandants.

Burgher watch (1699–1795)

The ''ratelwagt'' were not the only ones patrolling the streets at night. From 1699, the burgher militia (citizen force) also patrolled the town. In this context, they were known as the 'burgher watch'. The militia was controlled by the krygsraad (council of war), presided over by the commander of the garrison. The burgher watch system ended when the militia was disbanded in 1795.

Landdrost's "officers of justice" (1809–1828)

In March 1809, the Caledon administration appointed a ''landdrost'' to administer the district. This gave the district the status of a ''drostdy''. The landdrost's responsibilities included law and order, and he had a few police riders to patrol the district, guard prisoners, keep the peace, enforce the liquor laws and prevent smuggling.Theal, G. M. (1900). ''Records of the Cape Colony'', vol. VI, p. 469. From 1812, the landdrost was assisted by an under-sheriff, who supervised the law enforcement officers.

1825–1882

Police Office (1825–1840)

In November 1825, the

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

administration established a Police Office to oversee both the under-sheriff and his men, and the night watch. Its duties included suppressing riots and breaches of the peace, removing public nuisances, maintaining peace and decorum in public places, maintaining

port regulations, protecting property, supervising foreigners, locking up vagrants, maintaining order in markets and taverns and retail shops, and registering births and deaths and various licences.Ordinances 11 and 12 of 1825 (Cape). A police court, presided over by a commissioner (later called 'Judge of Police'), was established in May 1826 to try police cases in Cape Town. From January 1828, the court also had jurisdiction in the Cape Drostdy. The Police Office was headed by a Superintendent of Police, a post held by Baron Charles de Lorentz from 1826 to 1860. From 1834, he also presided over the police court, his title being changed to 'Judge and Superintendent of Police'.

Resident magistrates' police (1828–1848)

Under the new system of courts introduced in January 1828, the ''landdrosts' ''judicial duties were transferred to resident magistrates. The Cape drostdy was divided into two magisterial districts: Cape (i.e. Cape Town) and

Simon's Town Simon's Town (), sometimes spelled Simonstown, is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa and is home to Naval Base Simon's Town, the South African Navy's largest base. It is located on the shores of Simon's Bay in False Bay, on the eastern s ...

. The magistrates took over the ''landdrost's ''police riders. The southern part of the Cape district, including Simon's Town, was formed into the Wynberg magisterial district in March 1839. Simon's Town and its environs were proclaimed a separate district again in March 1848.

Town Police (1840–1882)

In May 1840, the Napier administration replaced the Police Office with the Town Police, a professional police force, modeled on the London Metropolitan Police. Its functions were defined as preserving the peace, preventing crime, apprehending offenders, and enforcing the Lord's Day Observance Ordinance and the liquor licensing laws. The force was confined to the Cape Town municipal area, but could pursue fleeing offenders anywhere within the Cape district.Ordinance 2 of 1840 (Cape). The Town Police were headed by an Inspector of Police, who reported to the Judge & Superintendent. John King, recruited from the London 'Met', was the first inspector. Headquarters were at 35 Burg Street, Cape Town. The Town Police were severely tested during the 1849–50 Convict crisis, which saw many incidents of public violence and unrest.Hattersley, A.F. (1960). ''The First South African Detectives''. The police court was closed in 1860. After that, police cases were heard in the magistrate's court, and the Inspector of Police was under the authority of the magistrate instead of a superintendent.Abolition of Office of Judge & Superintendent of Police Act 1860.

'Rural' police forces (1848–1882)

From 1848, each magisterial district in the colony had a small uniformed police force, headed by a chief constable who reported to the magistrate.Ordinance 24 of 1847 (Cape). These forces were known collectively as the "rural police". Simon's Town established its police force, under John Kinsley, in March 1848. Wynberg followed, with the appointment of Thomas Shannon as chief constable in April 1848. The Cape district police force was established under Thomas Pope in May 1848. His headquarters were at Papendorp (later

Woodstock The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival held from August 15 to 18, 1969, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York, Woodstock. Billed as "a ...

Water Police (1860–1882)

The

Grey Grey (more frequent in British English) or gray (more frequent in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning that it has no chroma. It is the color of a cloud-covered s ...

administration formed the Water Police in September 1860, to prevent theft in ships and on the wharves, suppress mutinies, and protect property and maintain order in Table Bay harbour.Cape Town Water Police Act 1860 (Cape). William Scott was the first Boat Officer in charge of the Water Police. The post was upgraded to inspector in 1880.

1882–1913

Cape Police District No 1 (1882–1888)

The

Scanlen Scanlen is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Eliza Scanlen (born 1999), Australian actress *Thomas Charles Scanlen Sir Thomas Charles Scanlen (9 July 1834 – 15 December 1912) was a politician and administrator of the Cape C ...

ministry had the Police Regulation Act passed in 1882, to enable the government to establish police forces. The Act authorised it to declare "police districts" and establish police forces for them, to preserve the peace, prevent crime and apprehend offenders.Police Regulation Act 1882 (Cape). These forces were "chiefly intended for the detection and investigation of crime and the arrest of offenders."''Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette'' 6284 (25 August 1882) : Rules and Regulations for Police Forces. They were known collectively as the ' Cape Police'. The Cape Town, Wynberg and Simon's Town districts were proclaimed as District No 1 in August 1882, and Bernard V. Shaw, formerly of the London 'Met', was appointed commissioner. He had direct control over the Town Police (which he renamed 'City Police') and the Water Police (which he renamed 'Dock & Harbour Police'). By arrangement with the Wynberg and Simon's Town magistrates, he had operational control over their police too, but they remained under the magistrates' ultimate authority. The Wynberg district police were later renamed 'Suburban Police'. By 1883, the City Police had at least one detective.Police Regulation Act 1883. Police stations were opened in Sir Lowry Road (Cape Town),

Claremont Claremont may refer to: Places Australia *Claremont, Ipswich, a heritage-listed house in Queensland * Claremont, Tasmania, a suburb of Hobart * Claremont, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth * Town of Claremont, Perth * Claremont Airbase, an ...

and

Sea Point Sea Point (Afrikaans: ''Seepunt'') is an affluent and densely populated suburb of Cape Town, situated in the Western Cape, between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean, a few kilometres to the west of Cape Town's Central Business District (CBD). M ...

.''Reports of the Commissioners of Police for the Year 1886''. From 1884, headquarters, the police stations and the Dock & Harbour Police were connected by telephone.''Reports of the Commissioners of Police of the Several Police Districts of the Colony'' (1884) Cape Police District No 1 was closed in 1888. The commissioner's authority was transferred to the assistant magistrate of Cape Town, who was given the title 'Chief of Police'.

City, Suburban and Simon's Town Police (1888–1901)

City Police headquarters moved from Burg Street to Wale Street, Cape Town in 1890. Several more police stations were opened in Cape Town and neighbouring villages during the 1890s, namely Constantia,

Hout Bay Hout Bay (, meaning "Wood Bay") is a seaside suburb of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is situated in a valley on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, twenty kilometres south of the Central business district of ...

, Maitland,''Report of the Assistant Resident Magistrate in Charge of the Cape Town, Suburban, Simon's Town and Durbanville Police Forces'' (1894)

Durbanville Durbanville, previously called Pampoenkraal, is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, part of the greater City of Cape Town, Cape Town metropolitan area. It is a semi-rural residential suburb on the north-eastern outskirts of the ...

, Kloof Street (Cape Town), Durban Road (later ' Bellville') (1895),''Report of the Chief of the Cape Town, Suburban, Simon's Town and Durbanville Police Forces'' (1895)

Observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysics, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. Th ...

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Philippi Philippi (; , ''Phílippoi'') was a major Greek city northwest of the nearby island, Thasos. Its original name was Crenides (, ''Krēnĩdes'' "Fountains") after its establishment by Thasian colonists in 360/359 BC. The city was renamed by Phili ...

,''Report of the Chief of the Cape Town, Suburban, Simon's Town and Durbanville Police Forces'' (1897)

Kalk Bay Kalk Bay (Afrikaans: ''Kalkbaai'') is a fishing village and suburb of Cape Town. It lies on the west coast of False Bay. Much of the town is built on the slopes of mountains which border the sea, with peaks of Table Mountain Sandstone forming va ...

and

Muizenberg Muizenberg ( , Dutch for 'mice mountain') is a beach-side town in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is situated where the shore of the Cape Peninsula curves round to the east on the False Bay coast. It is considered to be the main surfing spo ...

.''Report of the Chief of the Cape Town, Suburban, Simon's Town and Durbanville Police Forces'' (1898). A detective department, headed by a detective sub-inspector, was established in 1894.

Cape Police District No 3 (1901–1904)

The City Police, Dock & Harbour Police, Suburban Police and Simon's Town Police were combined as Cape Police District No 3 in November 1901.''The Bandolier'' (Dec 1901). Lt Col Macleod Robinson was commissioner. District No 3 was divided into A Division (Cape Town, except the docks), Green & Sea Point and

Camps Bay Camps Bay (Afrikaans: ''Kampsbaai'') is an affluent suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, and the small bay on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula after which it is named. In summer it attracts many South African and foreign visitors. History The ...

); B Division (Docks); and C Division (the rest of the Cape district, Wynberg and Simon's Town districts). This organisation was later changed to HQ Division (Cape Town and Camps Bay); A Division (Docks and Green & Sea Point); B Division (Woodstock and Maitland); and C Division (rest of Cape district, Wynberg and Simon's Town districts). A Morals Squad was established in 1902 to deal with prostitution.Van Onselen, C. (2007). ''The Fox and the Flies''. Two more police stations were opened in Cape Town : one in Hanover Street (

District Six District Six (Afrikaans: ''Distrik Ses'') is a residential neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa, located next to the city's Cape Town CBD, CBD. In 1959, people of color were banned from the area and most of them were resettled in Gugulet ...

(1902) and one in Riebeeck Street (1903).

Cape Peninsula Urban Police District (1904–1913)

In April 1904. the government amalgamated the mounted divisions of the Cape Police districts into a single

Cape Mounted Police The Cape Mounted Police (originally Cape Police) was the principal law enforcement agency of the Cape Colony during its last three decades. In addition to its ordinary policing duties, it was a para-military organisation, which saw active service ...

. It combined the Cape Peninsula and other urban police forces into the 'Urban Police District'.''Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette'' 8638 (8 April 1904) : Government Notice 365. District Inspector Robert Crawford was appointed commissioner.''Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette'' 8642 (22 April 1904) : Government Notice 408. As this fragmented district proved unsatisfactory, most of the towns concerned were transferred to the CMP, and Cape Town and Kimberley each became an UPD in its own right.''Report of the Commissioner of Urban Police'' (1904). Crawford was Commissioner of the Cape Peninsula UPD until 1913.Kilpin, E.F. (Ed) (1910). ''Cape of Good Hope Civil Service List 1910''. A fingerprint registry was established in 1904, and soon proved useful.

South African Police (1913)

The Cape Peninsula Urban Police were taken over by the new

in April 1913. Since then, Cape Town and its environs have been the responsibility of the national police services (SAPS).

References

{{reflist Defunct law enforcement agencies of South Africa