The Greek Military Police (Greek: Ελληνική Στρατιωτική Αστυνομία), generally known in Greek by the acronym ESA (Greek: ΕΣΑ), was the military police branch of the Greek Army in the years 1951–1974. It developed into a powerful paramilitary organization and a stronghold of right-wing, conservative Army officers. It became the main security (secret police) and intelligence organization during the Greek military junta of 1967–1974 and was occasionally used as a death squad by the ruling Colonels. After the fall of the junta and the restoration of democracy in 1974, it was disbanded because of its brutal practices, which included the widespread use of torture.