Special constable

A special constable or special police constable (SC or SPC) can refer to an auxiliary or part-time law enforcement officer or a person who is granted certain (special) police powers. In some jurisdictions, police forces are complemented by a special constabulary, whose volunteer members have full police powers and hold the office of constable. In other jurisdictions, specifically Canada and parts of Australia, special constables are sworn peace officers granted police powers to enforce specific legislation in a distinct context or geographic area (e.g. universities, public transit, parks, etc.). Historically, and in different contexts, special constables have been paid or volunteer members of an ad-hoc reserve force or a permanent auxiliary, and have ranged from unarmed patrols to armed paramilitaries. In the Australian state of New South Wales, special constables can now only be appointed by the NSW Police Commissioner. Previously, to augment the NSW Police but also to protect the community against abuse or neglect by the NSW Police, Special Constables could be appointed by a magistrate or two justices where "tumult, riot, or serious indictable offence has taken place, or may be reasonably apprehended" and the magistrate or justices believe that "the ordinary constables or officers appointed for preserving the peace are not sufficient for the preservation of the peace, and for the protection of the inhabitants and the security of their property, or for the apprehension of offenders". Special constables were appointed under the Police (Special Provisions) Act 1901 and had the same powers as constables of the NSW Police. Inspectors of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals may be appointed as special constables. Officers of local government councils, Transport for NSW and NSW Health responsible for health and building inspections, vehicle parking, railway laws and to prevent disorder in certain circumstances may be appointed as special constables. NSW Police employs special constables as an armed internal security force.