A special constable or special police constable (SC or SPC) is generally an auxiliary or part-time law enforcement officer. Many police departments are complemented by a Special Constabulary which are referred to as special constables or informally as "specials". Special constables hold full police powers and hold the office of constable. The term is broad in meaning. Historically, and in different contexts, special constables have been paid or volunteer members of an ad hoc reserve force or a permanent auxiliary, and have ranged from unarmed patrols to armed paramilitaries.