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14th September 1997

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HIstory of the Ceylon Police

The policing methods used by the British

The following are excerpts from the book History of the Ceylon Police, by A. C. Dep, former
Inspector General of Police

The policing methods used by the British in the early days are to some extent revealed by the practices followed in Jaffna. The manner in which police functions like escorting, guarding, patrolling and making inquiries were done, is indicated, here. Sepoys were used for escort duties of all types including the escorting of bullocks and of coolies. On the 9th December1795 the house of Sooper was burgled and 700 Pagodas worth of goods were removed. Several suspects were taken into custody, among these being some well known old offenders. The Collector wanted these men guarded by the military to avoid escapes. He also wanted two Sepoys to accompany his officers when they went to make arrests and searches. On 23 November 1796 two men were taken into custody on a charge of breaking into Captain Mackenna’s house and committing robbery. The Collector wanted them lodged in the Fort gaol. On 13 January 1797 the Collector sent to the Officer Commanding Jaffnapatnam five robbers under a guard of Malays, as they were notorious robbers and wanted them confined in the Fort until they were tried by the Court Martial... the only Tribunal which can sentence them to suffer a punishment adequate to their crimes."

In Jaffna robberies were frequent and were committed very regularly without any sort of fear, even in the White Town. Desperate measures were called for, and the soldiers who were doing the patrols were briefed to take whatever severe measures they could to end this. A notice was published in these terms. "Whereas daring robberies have for sometime past been committed every night within the White Town of Jaffnapatnam and whereas many houses of the inhabitants have been broken into and plundered of their effects - This is to give notice that in order to check so great an evil and to secure the future repose of the Town, the inhabitants will henceforward agreeable to the English Laws under which they now live, be at liberty to repel in any manner by arms or otherwise the attacks of housebreakers and that every exertion will be also used by the British Police to secure either dead or alive the persons who may hereafter attempt such robberies.

In Colombo owing to the growing disorder De Meuron was compelled to take charge of the police of the public bazaar himself, as the Cutwall was very ineffective.

Inquiries were handled by the Collector Courts, based on the order of Colonel Stuart dated 25 April 1796. This order read. "The Superintendent for collecting revenue and his deputies are to have subject to the control of Colonel Stuart, the direction of all matters appertaining to the Police and the Power to try and punish all persons committing theft and other misdemeanours, who may be confined in the Cutcherics and to settle and determine all disputes which may happen amongst the native inhabitants and to punish the guilty when necessary in doing which they are on no account to be prevented by any interferences on the part of officers in the command of stations, guards and Posts who are to confine themselves to their military commands, attending always to the disciplining of the Troops and the protection of the station etc., entrusted to their care". Thus Colonel Stuart insulated the civil authority from military interference quite early.

Murder inquiry

An inkling of how a murder inquiry was conducted under these directions, appears in the Collector’s report dated 3 January 1797. The Collector John Jervis addressed Robert Andrews thus: "Soopah Pillay being now on my summons at Jaffna. I beg leave to acquaint you, Major Barbut and I have jointly inquired into the charges which were preferred against him and are on a due consideration of the subject of opinion that he is innocent of the murder committed sometime since in the Vanny,at the sametime we cannot but remark that his great inactivity in regard to the apprehension of the person now in confinement for the act, who was always of suspicious character might very naturally have led any gentlemen on receiving the first account of the business to have entertained unpleasant sentiments of suspicion against him. Standing, however, acquitted of guilt he is this day ordered back to the Vanny to resume his office of Aumildar, and the temporary imputation he brought on himself will, I trust urge him in future to greater attention to his duty".

Kird Frederic North takes over

The Madras officials who held high position in the new government attached importance to the increasing of revenue by taxing. For this purpose they altered the old system of administration, and replaced the Mudaliyars with aumildars. They imposed a new tax on coconut trees and began to collect this with great zeal. The people resented this and rose in rebellion. An aumildar was killed in the Vanny and serious fighting took place in other places. This uprising caused much disorder in the country and was quelled with much difficulty. At the tail end of this, Lord Frederic North arrived as Governor. "I arrived here in October, shortly after the extinction of a dangerous and general rebellion, after an old and inveterate system of oppression had been for three years superseded by another more rational perhaps in its principles, but more violent in its operations and much more repugnant to the feelings of the people as it was destructive of their wages and subversive of their property."

Lord North started his administration aided by these Madras officials. He was given clear instructions by the Directors on the administration of Justice and Police. He was asked to make use of the institutions which existed during the Dutch period and also the personnel available. North followed these instructions closely and before long was able to report, "In the Office of Police and in many inferior administrations myself as well as the heads of Departments have placed many Dutchmen whose local knowledge, as well as that of the language have rendered them highly necessary." One such person he employed was Baron Frederic Mylius, as Fiscal of Colombo. He came from a nobly family of Stuttgart and was married to a niece of the late Dutch Governor Van de Graaf. His knowledge and experience was very useful in all matters relating to the Police. North’s knowledge of police matters in the country was very limited and he therefore found Mylius’ service of very great value. In 1799 when a murder was reported from Negombo, North directed De Meuron, who was in charge of the troops, to ask his Commanding officer to give the Mudaliyars all the assistance for "discovering and arresting the perpetrators and accomplices of a horrid outrage and murder committed in that place and that the persons so arrested may be brought immediately to Colombo in Irons."

Baron Mylius who was very conscious of the fact that he was the one man who could throw "more light concerning the Police than from the greatest part of the Gentlemen in this country" began to make available his specialized knowledge. He first wanted the inhabitants of the Town to send him an exact list of the members of their respective families and of all changes which may take place in them by the arrival of strangers, by deaths etc." This was a regulation passed by the late Governor Van de Graaf. "I am of opinion that such a regulation will tend to restore a degree of order to the Police and also to the comfort and safety of the community at large by preventing the desertion and concealment of thieves or other evil intending persons." He next wanted a Wykemeester appointed to assist the Fiscal in Police work. North ruled this out stating that his very appointment was made for a purpose like this. Mylius continued the good work thus unaided by a Wykemeester. He held the view "that it is not the severity of a punishment which prevents an irregular conduct but the certainty of the punishment." He wanted severe punishment meted out to the persons responsible for the Great Robbery at Wellawatte, three miles from Colombo.

The Malays

The behaviour of the Malays was a cause of anxiety to the Government. A murder was committed in Alut Kuru Korale where a Malay was suspected. "The father of a numerous family was killed in the most cruel manner by a Malay, that Mr. Van Angelbeeks and many other families were robbed by Malays." Because the Sepoys and Malays passing through the Vanny were forcing the inhabitants to carry their luggage and perform other services "several families have emigrated and whole villages deserted." Roving banditti of Malays scared the Kandyans who came for trade. ‘The Candians are prevented from bringing their rice to market by the fear of some Malays who are said to live in the neighbouring parts subsisting on plunder." It became imperative for the government to check on the activities of Malays.

North realised the great need there was for bringing the Malays under control. He found that the Malays fell into three categories, the Princes, the Soldiers and the Robbers. The Princes were mostly deposed sovereigns of Java and the neighbouring islands. When Trincomalee fell the Commandant of the Free Malays Prince Radin Porowa Dachsina surrendered to the British.

He next accompanied General Stuart to Colombo and was appointed Chief of the Malay Corps. He was instrumental in prevailing upon the Malays to enter the service of the British. North soon after reorganised their regiment by increasing its numbers, giving it more officers and presenting it with new colours. This regiment was then sent to Trincomalee to serve under Captain E. W. Von Drieberg.

To check the Malays who were not in the service, North published a Proclamation in March 1799 requiring their registration. Before a specified date they had to present themselves before the Commandants of Towns for registration. They were forbidden to go about without a passport or have in their possession dangerous weapons. The Collector of Kalutara was hopeful that their registration would be beneficial. "There is indeed a roving banditti of Malays who were unfortunately let loose on the public, when we got possession of Colombo. It is to be hoped that these new regulations will bring the greatest part of them back to their old confinement.

And before long North settled a colony of invalid Malays at Hambantota, in the vicinity of the salt pans, as this important area was almost a barren wilderness. The Malays were chosen for this "as the Malays are a far more industrious race than the Cingalese as they are good gardeners and fishermen, and as they are courageous and not easily terrified with little dangers and inconveniences."

This move also helped North to neutralise a troublesome element in the population.


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