Special police
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Special police is a term which can mean a number of things in different countries.
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[edit] Australia
In Australia, a Special Constable is any police officer with limited power (and usually with specialized roles). Until as recently as the 1970s all policewomen were classed as Special Constables.
[edit] China, People's Republic of
In the People's Republic of China, the Special Police Units are their local equivalent of SWAT teams. They are tasked with duties that normal patrol officers are not sufficiently equipped to handle, such as riot control and hostage-situations.
[edit] New Zealand
"Special Police" is not a term actively used in New Zealand. Aside from the New Zealand Police, special powers are derived in legislation for Customs Officers, Fisheries Officers, and also Fire Police. Of those mentioned, the Fire Police hold the full legal powers of a Police Constable when on official duty. Customs Officers, Aviation Security Officers, Customs Officers and the like have limited powers (including the power to arrest or detain) in particular circumstances.
[edit] Singapore
In Singapore, a Special Constable is any rank and file police officer serving their national service obligations with the Singapore Police Force on a full-time basis for a period of two years, or as a reservist for ten years. Civilians who contribute to the force on a voluntary basis belong to an organisation known as the Volunteer Special Constabulary, which is a department of the regular police force.
[edit] United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the Special Constabulary is an all-volunteer, unpaid, part-time civilian auxiliary to the regular police, but accorded full police powers both on and off duty within their district and adjoining districts. Each British police force maintains its own Special Constabulary with its own administrative structure. Special Constables were used extensively in the early decades of the 20th century for strikebreaking, notably in the police strike of 1919 and the British General Strike of 1926. A large body of Specials were also recruited to compensate for the loss of men during the two world wars.
The Specials are also the name of a British ska band formed in 1977. The band popularized the two-toned fashion style associated with British ska, drawing, as the name suggests, on the black and white checkerboard pattern used by the Special Constabulary. The choice of the black and white design was an expression of anti-racism at a time of heightened racial tensions in England at the time.
[edit] Canada
While large municipal police forces often have volunteer auxiliaries today, historically, Special Constables were used on an ad hoc basis prior to the Second World War for strikebreaking. Sometimes they were voluntary, other times they were paid a small wage. Often they were recruited by private companies, but were then sworn in as special constables and issued guns and badges, giving them police powers under the authority of the state. The most notorious incident was during the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 when the entire police force was replaced with 2000 better paid specials because the regular force refused to swear an oath not to engage in strikes or sympathy strikes. Those Specials formed the basis of a new, non-unionized police force after the strike was broken.
[edit] United States
In United States terminology, special police can mean:
- Fire Police, members of specialized tactical units responding with volunteer fire companies;
- Auxiliary Police, members of volunteer, unpaid, part-time civilian police units;
- Security Police; or
- Company Police.
The term can also refer to limited police power granted in some jurisdictions to lifeguards, SPCA personnel, teachers, and other public sector employees which is incidental to their main responsibilities.
[edit] Special police in North Carolina
In North Carolina, some private companies have their own special police forces. These include hospitials, hotels, race tracks, and shopping malls and are more properly referred to as "Company Police". There are also companies that offer contract special police services for a fee to anyone who has property they wish to protect. In the state of North Carolina, special police differ greatly from security companies. Special police officers have full arrest powers on any property they are hired to protect within the state as granted by the North Carolina Attorney General. Special police officers must also attend and pass the Basic Law Enforcement Training program like all other police officers. Security officers do not have arrest powers as their job is to mainly observe and report.
