View source for Security police

{{Short description|Law enforcement agencies responsible for protecting specific properties}}
{{original research|date=July 2015}}
[[File:Suojelupoliisin sisäpiha.jpg|thumb|A view from the gate corridor to the courtyard of the [[Finnish Security Police]] (SUPO) in 1957]]
'''Security police''' usually describes a [[law enforcement agency]] which focuses primarily on providing [[security]] and law enforcement services to particular areas or specific properties.<ref>{{cite web |title=Security Police |url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/security-police |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810000427/https://www.dictionary.com/browse/security-police |archive-date=2024-08-10 |quote=...a police force responsible for maintaining order at a specific locale or under specific circumstances, as at an airport or factory}}</ref> They may be employed by governmental, public, or private institutions. Security police are generally considered distinct from [[security guard]]s as security police personnel typically hold some level of [[Law enforcement agency powers|law enforcement authority]]. The exact powers held by security police vary widely between jurisdictions. Examples of these types of agencies include the United States' [[Department of Defense Police|DoD Police]] and [[FBI Police]], the Indian [[Central Industrial Security Force]], and the British [[Civil Nuclear Constabulary]].

In some countries, ''security police'' is the name given to the secret [[Security agency|security]] and [[intelligence service]]s charged with protecting the [[State (polity)|state]] at the highest level, including responsibilities such as personal protection of the [[head of state]], [[counterintelligence]], and [[counter-terrorism]]. Examples of these agencies include the Japanese [[Security Police (Japan)|Security Police]] and the Georgian [[Security Police Department]].

==Types of security police agencies==
Types of security police may include:

* ''[[Airport police]]'', who provide law enforcement and security services to [[airports]]
* ''[[Campus police]]'' and ''school police'', who provide law enforcement and security services to specific public and private schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions
* ''[[Housing authority]] police'', who primarily protect publicly-owned housing or [[housing project|housing projects]]
* ''Hospital police'', who provide law enforcement and security services to specific medical institutions and their facilities and properties
* ''[[Park police]]'' and ''[[park rangers]]'', who primarily protect parks facilities and their grounds
* ''[[Capitol police]]'', who protect state properties such as legislative, executive buildings, state/national capitol buildings, and their grounds, and can also include [[executive protection]] functions
* ''[[Company police]]'' and ''[[private police]]'', who provide law enforcement and security services on company or private property (working either directly for the company/private entity or for a third-party entity which provides law enforcement services by contract), where local law permits private organizations to establish their own law enforcement agencies

Generally, any law enforcement agency dedicated to the security of a particular property or properties may be considered a security police agency.

== Security police powers and authority ==
Security police differ from [[security guard|security guards]] in that personnel of security police agencies are considered [[law enforcement officers]], while security guards generally are not. Even where security guards hold some form of policing powers beyond that of the average individual they are not generally considered "security police." The powers and authority of security police vary  by jurisdiction, but at a minimum they generally hold detainment and arrest powers.

Some security police agencies enjoy enhanced authority in certain circumstances. For example, the [[Belfast Harbour Police]] of [[Northern Ireland]] may, in addition to having authority to enforce the [[law of Northern Ireland]] and of the United Kingdom, enforce the [[Belfast Harbour|Belfast Harbour Commissioners’]] by-laws.

Security police are generally trained to a similar — if not identical — standard as other law enforcement officers of their nation, though standards do vary widely between jurisdictions.

== Security police around the world ==
=== Australia ===
The [[RAAF]] Security Police is responsible for base security and policing the RAAF and they work closely with the [[Airfield Defence Guards]]. The Military Working Dog Unit also provides a further security function.

Most state police force in [[Law enforcement in Australia|Australia]] employs a team of officers known as ''Protective Services Officers'' (PSOs). Stationed in and around public or government buildings, these PSOs are armed (to varying degrees) and wear slightly different uniforms. They are also called upon by regular police officers if the need arises. They generally undergo training at the state police college and share many resources. Some police officers have used the PSO path as a stepping stone to their current roles.

In [[New South Wales]], an armed internal unit of the [[New South Wales Police Force]] is staffed by special constables who hold identical powers and immunities of police officers at the rank of constable. Special constables wear similar uniforms to police officers, carry arms and appointments and are issued warrant cards and badges. Special constables provide security services to select government and police complexes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.policecareer.vic.gov.au/pso|title=Protective Services Officers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.police.sa.gov.au/sapol/about_us/structure/security_and_emergency_management_service.jsp |title=Internet :: Security and Emergency Management Service :: SAPOL |access-date=2014-04-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407065012/http://www.police.sa.gov.au/sapol/about_us/structure/security_and_emergency_management_service.jsp |archive-date=2014-04-07 }}</ref>

=== Germany ===
The [[Polizei beim Deutschen Bundestag]] (Polizei DBT, commonly known as ''Bundestagspolizei'') is the smallest and least known police agency in [[Germany]]. It is responsible for the protection of the premises of the [[Bundestag]] in [[Berlin]]. Because the chief of the ''Bundestagspolizei'' is the president of the [[Bundestag]] (Federal Parliament of Germany) and not the minister of the interior, it can not be called a federal police agency. The number of their officers is not published yet. The ''Bundestagspolizei'' recruit their staff from all German police agencies.

=== Hong Kong ===
A special division of the [[Hong Kong Police Force]], known as the [[Airport Security Unit (Hong Kong)|Airport Security Unit (ASU)]], has been engaged by airports in [[Hong Kong]] (HK), to provide security services. These personnel have higher fitness standards and are issued with heavier firepower, than ordinary HK police officers.

=== India ===
The [[Central Industrial Security Force]] (CISF) is the primary federal security police agency of India. It has a strength of more than 365,000 personnel and is responsible for protecting over 300 government industries,<ref name="mpua"/> 66 of the 137 civilian airports of India<ref>{{Cite web |title=CISF is deployed at 66 airports for providing security |url=https://www.psuconnect.in/amppage/news/cisf-is-deployed-at-66-airports-for-providing-security/36262/ |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=www.psuconnect.in}}</ref> and all the 13 major seaports of India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CISF to be deployed at ports |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/odisha/cisf-to-be-deployed-at-ports/cid/464924 |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref> It also protects the [[Delhi Metro]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CISF-to-take-over-Delhi-Metro-security/articleshow/1730990.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103182406/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-03-07/india/27875703_1_cisf-delhi-metro-baggage |url-status=live |archive-date=3 November 2012 |title=CISF to take over Delhi Metro security |date=7 March 2007 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> the [[Visva-Bharati University|Visva-Bharti University]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/home-ministry-approves-cisf-cover-for-visva-bharati-university-in-bengal-2385751.html|title=Home Ministry Approves CISF Cover for Visva-Bharati University in Bengal|date=13 November 2019|work=News18.com|access-date=16 November 2019}}</ref> certain [[Indian Space Research Organization]] (ISRO) buildings<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-01-06 |title=CISF takes over security of Uttarakhand's ISRO unit |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/cisf-takes-over-security-of-uttarakhands-isro-unit/articleshow/62391574.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-07-18 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> and 11 private establishments.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-12-22 |title=Reliance, Tata, Patanjali among 11 private establishments guarded by CISF: Govt to Rajya Sabha |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/reliance-tata-patanjali-among-11-private-establishments-guarded-by-cisf-govt-to-rajya-sabha/articleshow/88430253.cms |access-date=2023-07-16 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> In addition to this, it also provides consultancy services for more than 150 government and private establishments.<ref name="mpua">{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/ideas-that-worked/cisf-transformed-revenue-earning-modern-security-force/40620/?amp67|title=How CISF transformed itself into a revenue-earning modern security force}}</ref>

The [[Railway Protection Force]] (RPF) is responsible for protecting the [[Indian Railways]] and ensuring safety of citizens in trains. It has a strength of around 75,000 officers. 

The [[Defence Security Corps]] (DSC) protects military installations and property belonging to the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD).

In addition, many states may have their own police units or government agencies responsible for providing security for industries not protected by the CISF. These include various State Industrial Security Forces (SISF).

===Japan===
{{main|Security Police (Japan)}}

In [[Japan]], security police, also known as "SP" are law enforcement officers that provide security for domestic and foreign dignitaries.  Their role in dignitary protection is similar to that of the [[United States Secret Service]].

===Malaysia===
[[File:Ronda Cegah Jenayah.jpg|thumb|right|Malaysia - Police patrol personnel monitoring on the residence of VIP property. The police patrol mobile unit is a part of the C4-i implementation system.]]
The [[Royal Malaysia Police]] are generally responsible for protecting and policing the airports, seaports and government sites in [[Malaysia]]. Unlike several other countries, there is no state police for individual states.

===Portugal===
The [[:pt:Pol%C3%ADcia dos Estabelecimentos da Marinha|Navy Establishments Police]] ({{langx|pt|Polícia dos Estabelecimentos da Marinha}}) is a small security police force responsible for protecting several of the facilities of the [[Portuguese Navy]], including the navy central administration buildings, the [[Lisbon Naval Base]] and the [[Navy Museum]]. 

The Navy Establishments Police is a non-military service, in contrast with the [[:pt:Pol%C3%ADcia Naval|Naval Police]] (''Polícia Naval'') which is the [[Portuguese Navy]]'s military police.

===South Africa===
During the 1960s the [[Security Branch (South Africa)|South African Security Police]] were known for detaining and interrogating members of the public, often leading to the victims death or disappearance, especially in the height of the [[Apartheid]] era.

===Sri Lanka===
During the 1990s the [[Sri Lanka Police]] created a sub unit with its members known as ''police security assistants''. They were mostly limited to protection of police and governmental facilities.

===Sweden===
[[File:Tunnelbanan.jpg|thumb|Swedish ''[[ordningsvakt]]'' in the [[Stockholm metro]]]]
An ''[[ordningsvakt]]'' (”order-guard”) is a person deputized by the [[Swedish Police Authority]] to act as a law enforcement officer with limited police powers. Their main mission is to assist in maintaining public order. 

An ''ordningsvakt'' may carry a [[Baton (law enforcement)|baton]], [[firearm]], and [[handcuffs]],  may use a [[police dog]], and is authorized to use force if necessary to maintain order. An ''ordningsvakt'' may reject, remove and, if necessary, detain, a person who disturbs the public order in his area of responsibility. He may also detain persons suffering from [[alcohol intoxication]], seize [[alcoholic beverages]], make a [[citizen's arrest]] (as everyone else), seize [[evidence]] after a citizen's arrest, and [[Search and seizure|search]] a detained person. Detained persons and evidence are to be turned over to the police, who has a general command authority over him. An ''ordningsvakt'' carries a special badge, and, since 2012, wears a standardized uniform (irrespective of employer).<ref>[https://polisen.se/Lagar-och-regler/Ordningsvakter/ "Ordningsvakter." ''Polisen.''] Retrieved 2018-02-12.</ref> 

In February 2021, there were 7,830 persons deputized as ''ordningsvakter'' in [[Sweden]]. Of these, about 4,100 were employed by security companies while the rest had personal assignments from private or public clients. Previously, the assignments were mostly on a persona basis keeping public order at public events of a short duration such as soccer games and dances. 

Nowadays they also serve as employees of security firms on a permanent basis in the [[Stockholm metro]], in courts and at public meetings in municipalities and regions.<ref>Government of Sweden  (2021). ''En ny lag om ordningsvakter m.m.'' (SOU SOU 2021:38). Stockholm, p. 53.</ref> The number of sworn police officers in Sweden were at about the same time 20,942.<ref>[https://www.regeringen.se/artiklar/2021/01/ny-statistik-visar-pa-rekordnivaer-av-antalet-polisanstallda/  "Ny statistik visar på rekordnivåer av antalet polisanställda." ''Regeringskansliet.''] Retrieved 2022-02-13.</ref>

===Taiwan===
The special police (保安警察, ''Bao-an Jingcha'') is known as the Security Police of [[Taiwan]].

===United Kingdom===

====Northern Ireland====
The [[Northern Ireland Security Guard Service]] (not to be confused with [[Ministry of Defence Police|MOD Police]] or [[Military Provost Guard Service|MPGS]]) is a civilian armed guard service in which all civilian security officers are armed. They provide security at [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] establishments in [[Northern Ireland]].

The [[Belfast International Airport Constabulary]] is a small, armed, specialised police force responsible for policing [[Belfast International Airport]], Northern Ireland.

===United States===
In the [[United States]], the laws concerning peace officers vary widely from federal / state / city.  Each [[State legislature (United States)|state legislature]] with approval from the governor has the ability to modify the powers of peace officers in their state through legislation.

====Federal====
Most of the [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]]'s uniformed police officers are security police who primarily serve to protect federal property and personnel. An example is the [[Federal Protective Service (United States)|Federal Protective Service]] who protect [[General Services Administration#Federal property and buildings|federal buildings]] and the various agencies of the [[Department of Defense Police]] in protecting military installations and properties.

====By states====
Some major cities such as [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Los Angeles]], [[San Francisco]] and [[Boston]] have a security police service separate from their city police. These may be employees of a public agency or private contractors.

=====California=====
In California, peace officer powers are granted by the [[California Penal Code]] under a number of different code sections.  Cities, counties and special districts are authorized to form their own law enforcement agencies.  Peace officer training is regulated by a state agency, [[Police officer certification and licensure in the United States|Peace Officer Standards and Training]] or ''POST''.  This training can consist of as little as a 40-hour PC 832 course (for [[park ranger]]s, probation officers or fire investigators who might make an arrest in the course of their duties), or as much as a 700-hour POST Basic Academy (for entry level peace officers).

[[Security guards]] (including off duty peace officers) may only carry firearms in private employment if licensed by the state licensing authority, the [[Bureau of Security and Investigative Services]].  Persons regularly employed by public agencies as security guards, however, may be exempt from BSIS regulation, if they have completed POST-certified training in accordance with PC 832 or other penal code sections.  However, security guards employed by a private employer are still regulated by BSIS even though the client may be a public agency.

======Orange County======
[[Orange County Sheriff's Department (California)|Orange County Sheriff's Department]] '''special officers''' (SSOs) are duly-appointed California "public officers," defined by [https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=836.5 ''California Penal Code (PC) 836.5''], which grants public officers the authority to "...arrest a person without a warrant whenever the officer or employee has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a misdemeanor in the presence of the officer or employee that is a violation of a statute or ordinance that the officer or employee has the duty to enforce." The statute additionally grants them powers to write summons and tickets.

SSOs are designated public officers by ''[https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=831.4. California PC section 831.4. (a) (1)]''. This statute additionally authorizes them to carry firearms in the course of their duties. SSOs provide citation enforcement and general security and law enforcement services for the department in connection with the county [[Orange County Transportation Authority|bus system]], [[John Wayne Airport|airport]], the operations of the local courts and the custody of local prisoners.

SSOs attend a 16-week training academy at the Orange County Sheriff's Regional Training Academy that instructs new officers on laws of arrest, firearms training, arrest and control techniques, physical fitness, field and patrol tactics, first responder medical training, and corrections-custody training.

From 2016 to 2020, their right to carry concealed off-duty under their employment status was stripped. However, in December 2020, an agreement was brokered between the OCSD sheriff and the SSOs' union; SSOs would be provided identification cards identical to "sworn OCSD deputy sheriffs" which would identify them as either "law enforcement" or as "honorably retired law enforcement," as appropriate, and would identify them as personnel with "statutory arrest authority." While this would not confer upon SSOs California peace officer status, nor would it permit them to carry concealed off-duty under the color of California law, it would technically permit them to carry concealed off-duty under federal law ([[LEOSA]]), as their new identification cards meets the requirement to carry under the auspices of LESOA.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Archived copy | url=https://www.ocea.org/assets/files/attachments/ocea-ocsd-side-letter.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428145542/https://www.ocea.org/assets/files/attachments/ocea-ocsd-side-letter.pdf | archive-date=2025-04-28}}</ref>

======Los Angeles======
In the [[Los Angeles]] metropolitan area, there are numerous examples of security police with different levels of authority and responsibility.

* [[Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department]] - employs '''Security assistants''' (security officer I) and '''Security officers''' (security officer II) who assist deputy sheriffs in the protection of various county government facilities. The LASD absorbed the [[Los Angeles County Office of Public Safety]] on June 30, 2010.
** Security assistants are assigned to the Transit Services Bureau serve as fare inspectors.  Security assistants and security officers assigned to the Court Services Division provide weapons screening and general security of the county's superior and municipal courts.  Security officers assigned to the Community College Division provide campus security to the county's community colleges.  Additionally, security officers may also be assigned to provide security at other county facilities.
** Sheriff's security officers in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, such as peace officer ("POST") training, have limited peace officer powers while on duty and are outside the authority of the state [[security guard]] licensing agency, the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) with respect to their work for the county.
* [[Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] -  transit security officers are uniformed, 836.5 (a) PC public officers, who serve the MTA (Metro) by providing security for critical transportation infrastructure and internal revenue protection.  Transit security officers undergo a selection process that is similar to that for police (including an identical background investigation, as well as a psychological review and physical agility test), as well as an 800-hour internal training program and POST-certified arrest and firearms course.

=====New Orleans=====
The [[New Orleans Police Department|City of New Orleans Department of Police]] in accordance with New Orleans Home Rule Charter section 4-502 (2) (a) (b) and New Orleans Municipal Code 17-271 MCS 90–86, deputizes '''armed security officers, private investigators, college campus police''', city, state, and federal agencies, within the city limits, with limited police powers as New Orleans Police special officers. 

New Orleans Municipal Code 17-271 MCS 30-1122 states that it shall be unlawful for any person to act as an armed guard unless they are a peace officer. Louisiana R.S. 40:1379.1 (b) states that the special officer, when performing those tasks requiring a special officer's commission, shall have the same powers and duties as a peace officer. Special officers may make arrests for felony or misdemeanor offenses on the property or area they are to protect, patrol, or in relation to their direct assignment. The special officer, when making an arrest, may pat down the arrested subject for weapons. Special officers are to turn over arrested subjects and pertaining evidence to a New Orleans Police officer. Special officers are to honor all subpoenas on arrest made and appear in court to testify. Special officers, when not on a particular assignment, are regarded as private citizens and have no police powers. However, special officers still may make arrests for a felony, whether in or out of their presence, while not on a particular assignment, under Louisiana Law CCRP art.214 arrest by private person; when lawful.

===Venezuela===
The Internal Security Division is a security police unit of the Bolivarian Service of National Intelligence. Dressed with black berets and armed with M16s and M4s. This unit provides security at counterintelligence territorial bases and other facilities. They have police powers.

==Obsolete uses==

===Finland===
*The ''Suojelupoliisi'' or [[Finnish Security and Intelligence Service]] used the English title of “Finnish Security Police” until 2010. The name change was to emphasize its state security functions over any internal policing tasks it may have.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.supo.fi/about_supo|title=Supo - About Supo|website=www.supo.fi|language=en|access-date=2017-10-21|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827051620/http://www.supo.fi/about_supo|archive-date=2017-08-27}}</ref>

===Nazi Germany===
* The ''[[Sicherheitspolizei]]'', often abbreviated as SiPo, was a term used in Nazi Germany to describe the state political and criminal investigation security agencies. It was made up by the combined forces of the ''[[Gestapo]]'' (secret state police) and the ''[[Kripo]]'' (criminal police) between 1936 and 1939. As a formal agency, the SiPo was folded into the [[RSHA]] in 1939, but the term continued to be used informally until the end of the [[Third Reich]].
* The ''[[Reichssicherheitsdienst]]'' (RSD) was the security police assigned to protect dignitaries.

===United States===
* ''Security police'' is a term once used for the [[United States Air Force Security Forces]], who function as the [[military police]] of the [[United States Air Force]].

==See also==
* [[Border guard]]
* [[Gendarme]]
* [[Traffic guard]]
* [[List of protective service agencies]]
** [[Provost (military police)|Provost]]
* [[United States Air Force Security Forces]]
* [[Department security in Russia]]

== Citations ==
{{reflist}}

== General references ==
* "A NEW MEMBER OF THE LASD FAMILY" by John Herrera, Star News, September 2006
* ''[http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?isbn=0-7864-1574-6 The Privatization of Police in America]: An Analysis and Case Study''. McFarland & Company, 2003.

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928131808/http://www.mtapolice.net/ History of the Los Angeles County MTA Police]

{{UK private and military police forces}}
{{types of law enforcement agencies}}

[[Category:Crime prevention]]
[[Category:Law enforcement units]]
[[Category:Security]]