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Bahama Policeman.
- Royal Bahamas Police Force

Bahama Policeman

My limited edition soldier depicts a 6ft Bahama Policeman those friendly chaps we meet when holidaying in the Carribean.

In the Bahamas from the early 18th Century to the latter part of the 19th Century, the development of policing generally followed the pattern of policing in England. Men were appointed as constables to assist in the enforcement of government rules and regulations, and the apprehension of offenders. Night Watchmen were also assigned to protect the town of Nassau (Capital of the Bahamas) during the night, as early as 1729, there was a constable in New Providence.

In 1799, an Act of the General Assembly (now called Parliament) declared that all Bahama constables would have the same powers as their counterparts in England. They were then allowed to arrest on suspicion of crime as opposed to only after the crime had been committed.

During the early years of British Colonial Rule, slaves made up the majority of the population in the Bahamas. The little policing needed was done by the free population with the help of Constables, Magistrates, and Justices of the Peace. Any rebellion or potential rebellion by the slaves was kept in check by the local detachment of soldiers and the slave owners.

Prior to the abolition of slavery in 1834, there was a system of night patrols in New Providence called the Night Guard. The men forming this guard were not constables, but were also supervised by the local Magistrate.Their duties were primarily to protect the homes and businesses of the free population at night. In addition, the West India Regiment was stationed in Nassau to take care of any serious breach of peace throughout The Bahamas. These men were trained soldiers recruited from different ethnic groups in Africa and The Caribbean. They lived in Barracks in isolation from the populations to ensure their loyalty in the vent of local slave uprising. In addition, their duties also included the protection of the Islands from Foreign Invaders. At that time, the barracks was situated on the site where the Hilton British Colonial Hotel now stands.

Wooden Soldier Regimental Histories

All of our wooden soldiers are made in strictly limited editions, click here for a regimental history of each soldier.