Special police - Definition

Special police in United States terminology can mean a volunteer, unpaid, part-time civilian auxiliary police or it can mean a security police force. In North Carolina, the North Carolina Special Police is a quasi-official state police agency which is both a full and part time police force providing full or security police services by contract to small communities, special government districts (i.e., schools, airports, utilities) and other public sector / quasi official organizations.

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.

The United Kingdom equivalent would be the Special Constables who are an all volunteer, unpaid, part-time civilian auxiliary to the regular police who are accorded full police powers both on and off duty within their district and adjoining districts. They maintain their own administrative structure within the full time Police Service,.

In Australia the term Special Constable indicates any police officer with limited power (and usually with specialized roles); until as recently as the 1970s all policewomen were classed as Special Constables.

See also: Fire police; security police; constable