Gazettes are published by governments and their agencies as a means of communication
to officials and the general public. As such they are useful, not only to monitor
the actions of the government, but also as far as family historians are concerned,
they are valuable primary source documents.Police gazettes provided information and instructions to members of the police
force, much of which is unique, and cannot be found elsewhere. In general the Police Gazettes are likely to include the following information
that will usually list names and some times personal details, descriptions with
photograph, addresses and/or occupations may be an added bonus for the researcher:
-
apprehensions
- complainants
- convictions without custodial sentence
- escapees and absconders from custody
- lost or stolen property and stock—names of victims
- deserting wives, families, etc
- deserting from military service
- deserting from merchant vessels
- missing friends
- persons suspected or wanted for a crime and warrants issued
- police resignations, dismissals and discharges
- police killed in action or dying in the service
- police promotion examination results and appointments
- prisoners tried at supreme and circuit courts
- prisoners discharged from gaols
- prisoners released under licence
- prohibited immigrants
- superannuants
Example entry taken from the 25 November 1916 issue:
Miscellaneous - Changes in the Force
Transfers
Constable J.R. Biffin, No. 2019, from Mount Morgan to St. Lawrence.
Constable T. Quinlan, No. 1043, from St. Lawrence to Mount Morgan.
Constable M. Murphy, No. 1899, from Brandon to Townsville.
Constable S. Curvey, No. 1885, from Townsville to Brandon.
Constable R. Coyne, No. 2113, from Woolloongabba to Rockhampton.
Constable J.J. Gill, No. 2212, from Depot to Crow's Nest
Constable T.J. Ryan, No. 1817, from Roma Street to Cordalba.
Constable M.P. Grace, No. 2005, From Townsville to Charters Towers.
Constable C. Cremin, No. 1388, from Charters Towers to Townsville.
Constable R.V. Vivers, No. 1874, from Childers to Bundaberg.
Constable F.B. Kearney, No. 1408, from Farleigh to Mackay.
Constable F. Weir, No. 1989, from Sarina to Farleigh.
Constable S. Ritchie, No. 1594, from Mackay to Sarina.
Constable F.A. Ings, No. 1555, from Mount Morgan to Longreach.
Constable J. Doyle, No. 423, from Depot to Roma Street.
Constable G.A. Cordell, No. 2108, from Longreach to Barcaldine.
Constable A.E. Sly, No. 2127, from Depot to New Farm.
Constable W.F. Bourke, No. 2211, from Depot to Woolloongabba.
This is a wonderful resource of information, which is now not only readily available but also fully searchable, so it is easy to use.
This CD contains high quality scanned images of the whole years worth of issues, and it has been bookmarked for easy navigation, and pages can be searched, browsed, enlarged and printed out if required.
