One hundred and sixty years ago, Queensland Police Service (QPS) Commissioner David Thompson Seymour marked the organisation’s establishment through the swearing of the QPS Oath, vowing to ‘well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen in the office of constable without favor [sic] or affection, malice or ill-will’.
Since the oath’s establishment in 1864, it has changed four times, reflecting the accession of new monarchs and the organisation’s name change to the Queensland Police Service in 1990. Queensland police officers have sworn oaths to Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II and now, King Charles III.
As part of their graduation ceremony, each recruit swears the oath and in 1990, recruits who preferred not to swear to God, were given the option of making an affirmation.
While the oath has remained substantially the same, each iteration has included small but significant changes including reference to “heirs and successors”, the “Office of Constable” and the phrase “or may be reduced’.
In November of 1989, following the Fitzgerald Inquiry, the 16th Queensland Police Commissioner, Noel Newnham implemented the QPS Statement of Ethics, a reminder to all QPS members of their ethical responsibilities, as inspired by the Statement of Ethics employed down south, by Victoria Police.
The Queensland Police Service has revised both the oath/affirmation and the statement of ethics to ensure these important cornerstones reflect the organisation’s current values and community expectations.
The oath and affirmation, while retaining the swearing of allegiance to the Monarch, now includes wording that emphasises the QPS’ commitment to serving the community.
Instead of keeping and preserving His Majesty’s peace and preventing all offences against the same, recruits will now pledge to ‘protect life and property, preserve peace and good order and prevent the commission of offences” and promise service ‘with honour, diligence and integrity and with respect for human rights.’
The statement of ethics now also reflects the QPS’ commitment to human rights and promise to promote the same.
Last week’s graduates were the first to swear the new oath/affirmation and Commissioner’s Award recipient Constable Catherine McNeice read the Statement of Ethics on behalf of her graduating cohort.
Currently serving officers will not have to swear the new oath/affirmation.
A career within the Queensland Police Service is like no other. From protecting, responding, and investigating, to supporting, rescuing and learning – the sheer variety of roles make it both a challenging and rewarding career.
As a police officer, you can have one career that has endless possibilities. Now really is the best time to join.
Visit PoliceRecruit.qld.gov.au to kickstart your policing career and make a positive impact in your community.
