Special police
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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 is the Special Constabulary who are an all volunteer, unpaid, part-time civilian auxiliaries 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.
In Singapore, Special Constable refers to all rank and file police officers serving their national service obligations with the Singapore Police Force on a full-time basis for a period of two years, or as reservists. Civilians who contribute to the force on a volunteery basis belong to an organisation known as the Volunteer Special Constabulary, which is a department of the regular police force.
See also: Fire police; security police; constable