Special Branch is the arm of British Police forces that deals with national security matters. They acquire and develop intelligence to help protect the public from national security threats, especially terrorism and other extremist activity.
The original Special Irish Branch of London's Metropolitan Police was formed in March 1883 to counter the then-current campaign of Fenian terrorism. The "Irish" soubriquet was later dropped as the department extended its remit to cover other threats.
Each police force has its own Special Branch, the largest by far being that of the Specialist Operations department of the Metropolitan Police (SO12). These departments work closely with one another and with MI5, the Security Service. The officers work in plain clothes and are occasionally armed. Although they are not part of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), they are entitled to use the prefix 'Detective' in front of their ranks.
Special Branch has responsibility for, amongst other things, personal protection of (non-royal) VIPs and performing the role of examining officer at designated ports, as prescribed by the Terrorism Act 2000.
The intelligence work of Special Branch is overlooked in some circles. This is because its role sits somewhere between that of the more enigmatic Security Service and that of the more glamorously titled Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch (SO13).
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Last updated: 08-23-2005 03:36:43
