Veřejná bezpečnost (VB) - a regular police force of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (ČSSR), created in 1945 under the umbrella of Sbor národní bezpečnosti (which also included Státní bezpečnost). It was divided into a Public order and Traffic VB (patrol police), Criminal Investigations VB (major crimes, forensics), Investigations VB and a Infrastructure Security section (security of important buildings, installations, etc.). There were regional, district, city and local detachments of the force.
The vehicles of VB were originally blue with a white line alongside the vehicles, later changed to yellow fenders and roof with white doors and white hood/trunk with black "VB" in the white areas. The author of the latter design admitted (after the fall of the regime) he saw the black and whites used in the USA as an inspiration.
The VB had a right to stop any citizen and demand občanský průkaz (an identification booklet), which had to carry not only the name and photo of the person but also their current address and employment - being unemployed in the ČSSR was practically illegal, as one could be charged with "living on avails of the society". Carrying občanský průkaz was mandatory and the příslušník (word for the member of VB) could detain the person unable to identify themselves with občanský průkaz, regardless if an investigation was being conducted.In 1991 it was transferred back to Police.
The VB had its volunteer members, recruited from "politically reliable" citizens over the age of 21, who wore a red arm-band with "PS VB" (Pomocná stráž VB) and were generally used for traffic control duties and in assisting the public order section of VB. Other police forces under the Ministry of the Interior were: SOOL (Sbor ozbrojenné ochrany letišť; Armed airport security), SOOŽ (Sbor ozbrojenné ochrany železnic; Armed railway security)