12th July 2012

Over 160 Tasmanian Justices of the Peace and their wives, husbands and partners came to Government House to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Tasmanian Society of Justices of the Peace.  In his welcome to the guests the Governor noted the long history of the Office of Justice of the Peace saying:

"The origins of the office of Justice of the Peace go back way more than 90 years –indeed they go back to 1195 – more than 800 years ago – when Richard I commissioned certain knights to preserve the peace in unruly areas. They were responsible to the King for ensuring the law was upheld; they preserved the 'King's Peace' and were known as the Keepers of the Peace. The Keepers of the Peace disappeared in the early 14th century and the Office of Justice of the Peace was officially established in England in 1327. So the Office of Justice of the Peace has a long and honourable history and that is something that we also celebrate this evening."

His Excellency is pictured below talking to Magistrate Peter Dixon, his wife 'Trish Dixon and Justice of the Peace Bruce Crawford.