Historical Dictionary of British Intelligence

SPECIAL BRANCH• 505

The deployment of the SAS inNorthern Irelandin 1970 gave the

regiment unrivaled experience in counterrevolutionary warfare, and

the tough regime of constant training, much of it in the jungle in Be-

lize and the hills of the Brecon Beacons. One of the three saber

squadrons is always on standby, available to respond instantly to ter-

rorist emergencies, and 22 SAS also seconded troops toBrixmisdur-

ing the Cold War and continues to provide personnel and equipment

for the Increment, a detachment assigned to theSecret Intelligence

Service.

SPECIAL BRANCH.Created in 1883 as the Special Irish Branch to
deal with Fenian terrorism in London, the Special Branch is a part of
theMetropolitan Police’s Criminal Investigation Division, staffed
by detectives who have been selected for their language or other
skills. Until December 1998 Special Branch provided personal pro-
tection officers for the royal family and other vulnerable targets, po-
liced the ports, investigated breaches of theOfficial Secrets Act, and
was responsible for countering Irish republican terrorism. Headed by
a deputy assistant commissioner in London, there are local Special
Branches in most of the provincial forces that liaise closely with the
Metropolitan Police Special Branch (MPSB), which is located in
New Scotland Yard.
Unlike their counterparts inMI5, Special Branch detectives are
ordinary police officers, carry a warrant card, enjoy powers of arrest
under the Metropolitan Police Act, and are subject to police disci-
pline. Because MI5 officers have never enjoyed the power of arrest,
Special Branch has always acted as its executive arm, collecting in-
telligence, passing on informants for recruitment as agents, and con-
ducting arrests and searches.
The term ‘‘Special Branch’’ came into common usage in 1887, and
after World War I the provincial forces introduced their own perma-
nent Special Branches. There are now Special Branches in each of
the 52 police forces in Great Britain, although their size varies from
a handful of officers commanded by a detective sergeant in some of
the smaller forces, to the 1,000 based at New Scotland Yard under
the direction of a commander holding assistant chief constable rank.
The heads of each branch hold regular quarterly regional meetings to
coordinate their activities and the national coordinator of ports polic-