The specific duties of a constable vary greatly from one country to the next, and even from one neighborhood to the next, but constables are generally thought to have law enforcement powers comparable to those of police officers and sheriffs. The lowest police rank in England is that of a police constable. In the United States, the term usually refers to a civilian who has been elected to serve as a peace officer.
Constable is a title that dates back to the Eastern Roman Empire. These constables were in charge of looking after their masters’ or superiors’ horses. Many European countries used the term to refer to high-ranking military officers tasked with defending a castle during the Middle Ages.
Constables are still widely used in England and other European countries, where they are the lowest-ranking police officers, or the equivalent of a patrol officer in the United States. In some European countries, the term “senior constable” can also refer to a police chief. Every sworn officer in England and other countries with a British colonial history may be considered a constable.
A volunteer police officer with the same powers as a regular officer is known as a special constable. These individuals perform a support role and are called upon when a higher level of police presence is required. All British police forces are led the chief constable.
While police officers typically have arrest powers as a result of their employment, British constables have legal arrest powers granted to them after taking an oath. Constables in the United Kingdom are independent legal officials rather than employees of a law enforcement agency due to a technicality.
In the United States, however, a constable is typically an elected peace officer with less authority than a police officer or a sheriff. Although constables in the United States are frequently charged with carrying out the processes of justice, their responsibilities vary location. Serving subpoenas and summonses in criminal and civil cases, as well as posting eviction and seizure notices, are all examples of this.
Private companies frequently provide these services, but states such as Texas, Tennessee, Arizona, and Alabama believe that elected constables are more effective. In carrying out the court’s processes, these constables may be assisted deputy constables and constable’s officers. However, there are some exceptions. High constables, who serve as the primary police officers in a few cities, are the primary police officers in those areas. In some states, such as Texas and Arizona, a constable may also be referred to as a marshal.