# Municipal police

Municipal police, city police, or local police are law enforcement agencies that are under the control of local government. This includes the municipal government, where it is the smallest administrative subdivision. They receive funding from the city budget, and may have fewer legal powers than the "state paid" police. These police forces usually report to a mayor or a local police board.

## Historical development

Historically, the role of the municipal police of local civic protection was carried out by watchmen. Today, some formations of municipal police still carry the name of the city/communal/municipal guard.

## Municipal police by country

| Country | English name | Native name(s) |
| Albania | Municipal Police | Albanian: Policia Bashkiake |
| Algeria | Municipal Guards | Arabic: حرس البلدي |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires City Police | Spanish: Policía de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Austria | Municipal police | German: Stadtpolizei (most common denomination), Gemeindepolizei, Gemeindesicherheitswache, Gemeindewachkörper |
| Australia | Council ranger | |
| Belgium | Local Police | French: Police Locale Dutch: Lokale Politie German: Lokale Polizei |
| Brazil | Municipal Guards | Portuguese: Guardas Municipais |
| Canada | Municipal and regional police services (criminal and administrative offences) and bylaw enforcement officers (administrative offences) | Municipal and regional police services (criminal and administrative offences) and bylaw enforcement officers (administrative offences) |
| Chile | Municipal Guards | Spanish: Guardias Municipales |
| China | Municipal Public Security Bureau | Chinese: 市公安局 |
| Czech Republic | Municipal Police | Czech: městská policie, obecní policie |
| Estonia | Municipal Police | Estonian: Munitsipaalpolitsei, MuPo |
| France | Municipal Police | French: police municipale |
| Germany | City Police | German: Stadtpolizei, Kommunalpolizei, Polizeibehörde Ortspolizeibehörde Bremerhaven: unique municipal police with detective branch |
| Greece | Municipal Police | Greek: Δημοτική Αστυνομία |
| Hungary | Local Governmental Law Enforcement | Hungarian: Önkormányzati Rendészet, Városőrség |
| India | City Police | |
| Indonesia | Municipal Police (Indonesia) | Indonesian: Satuan Polisi Pamong Praja ("SATPOL PP") |
| Italy | Municipal Police | Italian: Polizia Municipale, Polizia Comunale, Polizia Urbana, Polizia Locale or Vigili Urbani |
| Kazakhstan | Local Police | Kazakh: Жергілікті полиция Was created in 2015 with responsibilities for local beat policing, handling juvenile delinquency, preventing violence against women, road patrolling, environmental protection and non-pre-trial detention facilities. It was abolished in 2018 with these responsibilities returned to provincial police departments. |
| Latvia | Municipal Police | Latvian: Pašvaldības policija |
| Lithuania | Public Order Division | Lithuanian: Viešosios tvarkos skyrius |
| Mexico | Municipal Police | Spanish: Policía Municipal |
| Namibia | Windhoek Police | Windhoek Police |
| Netherlands | Municipal Enforcement | Dutch: Handhaving, Toezicht, Stadswacht, BOA (Bijzonder OpsporingsAmbtenaar. English: Special Enforcement Officer)Have some limited police powers like the use of (limited)force, handcuffs, detaining etc. (some have more powers than others) |
| Poland | City Guard | Polish: Straż miejska, Straż gminna |
| Portugal | Municipal Police | Portuguese: Polícia Municipal |
| Romania | Local Police | Romanian: Poliția Locală |
| Serbia | Communal Militia | Serbian: Комунална Милиција / Komunalna Milicija |
| Slovakia | City/Municipal Police | Slovak: mestská polícia, obecná polícia |
| Slovenia | Communal Police | Slovene: Občinsko Redarstvo |
| South Korea | Municipal Police of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province | Municipal Police of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province |
| Spain | Municipal Police | Spanish: Policía Municipal, Policía Local Basque: Udaltzaingoa Catalan: Guàrdia Urbana |
| South Africa | Municipal Police | Municipal Police |
| Switzerland | Municipal Police | French: Police municipale German: Stadtpolizei, Gemeindepolizei, Regionalpolizei Romansh: Polizia Cumûnala Italian: Polizia Municipale |
| Tunisia | Municipal Police | Arabic: الشرطة البلدية |
| Turkey | Municipal Police | Turkish: Belediye Zabıtası |
| Ukraine | Municipal guard | Ukrainian: Муніципальна варта |
| United States | Municipal police departments | Municipal police departments |
| Vietnam | Municipal police of Ha Noi City, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong City, Da Nang City and Can Tho City | Municipal police of Ha Noi City, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong City, Da Nang City and Can Tho City |