Police

:This article is about law enforcement. For the band, see The Police. For the town in Poland, see Police, Poland.

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Police forces are government organisations charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order. The word comes from the French, and less directly from the Greek politeia, referring to government or administration; the word police was coined in France in the 18th century. The police may also be known as a constabulary, after constables, who were an early manifestation of police officers.

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In most Western legal systems, the major role of the police is to discourage and investigate crimes, with particular emphases on crime against persons or property and the maintenance of public order, and if able to apprehend suspected perpetrator(s), to detain them, and inform the appropriate authorities. See criminal law.

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Police are often used as an emergency service and may provide a public safety function at large gatherings, as well as in emergencies, disasters, and search and rescue situations. To provide a prompt response in emergencies, the police often coordinate their operations with fire and emergency medical services. In many countries there is a common emergency service number that allows the police, firefighters or medical services to be summoned to an emergency.

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Police are also responsible for reporting minor offences by issuing citations which typically may result in the imposition of fines, particularly for violations of traffic law. Police sometimes involve themselves in the maintenance of public order, even where no legal transgressions have occurred — for example, in some Australian jurisdictions, people who are drunk and causing a public nuisance may be removed to a "drying-out centre" until they recover from the effects of the alcohol.

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The Police: :This article is about the band. For law enforcement agencies, see police....

Police, Poland: Police (Kashubian/Pomeranian: P?lice; German: P?litz) is a town in Pomerania, northwestern Poland, with 35,000 inhabitants (2000). Its name is pronounced "Poll?tseh". The name comes from Polish pole, which means "field"....

Government organisations: redirectpublic ownership...

Police related Images and Photos (experimental)

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