676. Duties and discipline of special police. [§ 12, Act V, 1861].
(a)Every effort should be made to spare special police officers any avoidable inconvenience or hardship. No more should be required from them than is necessary to enable them to perform the duty of keeping the peace which the law imposes on them; they should be employed in the manner best suited to make their personal influence felt and should not be assigned menial or unreasonable duties. The post of special police officer is to be regarded not as in any way dishonourable or involving harsh conditions but as an honourable office to which men are appointed for the preservation of the public peace.(b)The requirements in respect of discipline should usually be light. Any conditions which might be regarded by local residents as offensive and unnecessarily irksome should not be insisted upon. Physical drill, for instance, would in most cases be inappropriate and the saluting of officers below the rank of Inspector unnecessary; while parades or attendance at the police-station, when necessary, should be so regulated as not to cause hardship.(c)It is unnecessary to prescribe a regular uniform. A distinguishing badge, such as a red or dark blue armlet, would probably meet all requirements. Special police officers need not be called upon to wear belts.
