Editing Constable (section)

==Usage by country and region==
===Australia===
[[File:Nsw-police-constable.png|thumb|Rank epaulette of a constable of the [[New South Wales Police Force]]]]
{{Main|Australian police ranks}}

In Australia, as in the United Kingdom, constable is the lowest rank in most police services. It is often categorised into the following (from lowest to highest): probationary constable; constable; constable first class; senior constable; leading senior constable. These variations depend on the individual state or territory police force in question.

''Senior constable'' generally refers to a police officer of the rank above constable, and is denoted by way of two chevrons or stripes.

The [[New South Wales Police Force]] has three grades of senior constable, namely senior constable (two chevrons), incremental senior constable (two chevrons and a horizontal bar), and leading senior constable (two chevrons and two horizontal bars). A senior constable is senior to a constable but junior to an incremental senior constable. Promotion to senior constable can occur after a minimum of five years' service (one year as a probationary constable in addition to four years as constable) and then upon passing probity checks and an exam. Incremental senior constable is attained after ten years of service automatically. One is appointed to the rank of leading senior constable on a qualification basis, but must have a minimum of seven years' service amongst other criteria in order to be eligible. Leading senior constable is a specialist position of which there are limited allocated numbers within any section/unit or local area command. If an officer is transferred to another duty type or station, the officer is then relieved of the position of leading senior constable: it is primarily a position for field training officers who oversee the training and development of inexperienced probationary constables or constables.

Within the [[Victoria Police]], senior constable is the rank above constable, while above senior constable is leading senior constable. When first introduced into the Victoria Police, leading senior constable was a classification not a rank, somewhat like "detective"; leading senior constables were appointed specifically to assist in the training and mentoring of more junior members. The last round of wage negotiations, however, saw leading senior constable become a rank in its own right, one that a lot of members pass through on their way from constable to sergeant, though this is not strictly necessary and it is permissible to be promoted to sergeant direct from senior constable. The general form of address for both senior constable and leading senior constable is "senior", and this is acceptable even in courts.

The [[Queensland Police Service]] employs a similar rank structure. Recently graduated recruits from the [[Queensland Police Service|QPS]] police academy are deemed First Year Constables, a rank they will hold for the duration of their [[Probation (workplace)|probationary]] period within the service. Following their year of probation, they are promoted to the rank of constable, followed by another two grades, including the rank of senior constable (two chevrons) and leading senior constable (LSC, two chevrons and a bar). If the officer proves successful in an application for a detective position, they are to be known as a 'detective' constable. The proceeding ranks follow suit, including detective senior constable, detective LSC, detective sergeant, and so on. 

===Canada===
[[File:Mountie-on-Parliament-Hill.jpg|thumb|upright|A constable of the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] in [[full dress uniform|full dress]]. Constables are typically the lowest rank in Canadian police services.]]

In Canada, as in the United Kingdom, constable is the lowest rank in most [[Police|law enforcement]] services, including the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/about-ausujet/organi-eng.htm |title=RCMP Organisational Structure |publisher=Rcmp-grc.gc.ca |date=2009-05-19 |access-date=2009-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228055017/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/about-ausujet/organi-eng.htm |archive-date=2009-02-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In Newfoundland the provincial police are the [[Royal Newfoundland Constabulary]], whereby all officers are addressed by the term "constable".

In addition, the [[chief of police|chief officers]] of some [[municipality|municipal]] police services in Canada, notably [[Vancouver Police Department]], carry the title of [[chief constable]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/police/chief/profiles/CCJimChu.htm |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120729001602/http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/police/chief/profiles/CCJimChu.htm |archivedate=2012-07-29 |title=Chief Constable's Office |website=Vancouver Police Department}}</ref>

In [[Canadian French]], constable is translated to ''agent'', except in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police where it is translated as ''[[Gendarmerie|gendarme]]''.<ref>[http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/about/organi_f.htm RCMP Organisational Structure] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022072347/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/about/organi_f.htm |date=October 22, 2008 }} (in French).</ref>

Appointments can further be separated into:
* [[Special constable#Canada|Special constables]]
** RCMP special constables are appointed for specific skills, for example aboriginal language skills. They are [[Peace officer#Canada|peace officers]] under the ''Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act''.
** Outside of the RCMP, special constables are not police officers but are appointed to serve certain law enforcement functions, for example [[Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals|SPCA agents]] or court/jail officers.
* [[Auxiliary constable]]s, or reserve constables, are volunteers with a policing agency. They generally have peace officer status only when engaged in specific authorized tasks.
* Provincial civil constables (in [[Nova Scotia]]) deal with matters of a civil nature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/paal/just/paal238.asp |title=Special Constable and Provincial Civil Constable: Appointments |publisher=Gov.ns.ca |access-date=2011-03-06}}</ref>

===Denmark===
{{see also|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Navy|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Air Force}}
Within the [[Danish Defence]], constables are the lowest rank group. The ranks of {{lang|da|Konstabel}}, {{lang|da|Overkonstabel}} and {{lang|da|Overkonstabel af 1. grad}} are used for professional enlisted soldiers, sailors and airmen. However, {{lang|da|Overkonstabel af 1. grad}} is only used within the army, as both the navy and air force use a [[Specialist (rank)#Denmark|specialist]] rank instead.<ref name="Denmark_Navy"/><ref name="Denmark_AirForce"/>

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
! NATO Code||OR-3||OR-2||colspan=2| OR-1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''{{army|Denmark}}'''<ref name="Denmark_Army">{{cite web |title=Hærens Gradstegn |url=https://forsvaret.dk/globalassets/fko---forsvaret/dokumenter/gradstegn/-harens-gradstegn-.pdf |website=[[forsvaret.dk]] |publisher=Danish Defence |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=da |date=2018}}</ref>
| [[File:Denmark-Army-OR-3-M11.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Denmark-Army-OR-2-M11.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Denmark-Army-OR-1-M11.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Denmark-Army-OR-(D)-M11.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Danish
| {{lang|da|Overkonstabel af 1. grad}}
| {{lang|da|Overkonstabel}}
| {{lang|da|Konstabel}}
| {{lang|da|Konstabelelev}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Literal translation
| Senior constable first class
| Senior constable
| Constable
| Constable trainee
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Official translation<ref>{{cite web |title=Badges and Insignia of the Royal Danish Army |url=https://www2.forsvaret.dk/viden-om/generelt/gradstegn/Documents/Army%202018.pdf |website=forsvaret.dk |access-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814165949/https://www2.forsvaret.dk/viden-om/generelt/gradstegn/Documents/Army%202018.pdf |archive-date=14 August 2018 |date=2018}}</ref>
| [[Lance corporal]]
| [[Private first class]]
| [[Private (rank)|Private]]
| [[Recruit training|Recruit]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''{{navy|Denmark}}'''<ref name="Denmark_Navy">{{cite web |title=Søværnets Gradstegn |url=https://forsvaret.dk/globalassets/fko---forsvaret/dokumenter/gradstegn/-sovarnets-gradstegn--.pdf |website=forsvaret.dk |publisher=Danish Defence |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=da |date=2018}}</ref>
| rowspan=4| 
| [[File:Rank insignia of marineoverkonstabel of the Royal Danish Navy.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Rank insignia of marinekonstabel of the Royal Danish Navy.svg|50px]]
| rowspan=4| 
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Danish
| {{lang|da|Marineoverkonstabel}}
| {{lang|da|Marinekonstabel}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Literal translation
| Senior naval constable
| Naval constable
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Official translation<ref>{{cite web |title=Badges and Insignia of the Royal Danish Navy |url=https://www2.forsvaret.dk/viden-om/generelt/gradstegn/Documents/The%20Royal%20Danish%20Navy.pdf |website=forsvaret.dk |access-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814232541/https://www2.forsvaret.dk/viden-om/generelt/gradstegn/Documents/The%20Royal%20Danish%20Navy.pdf |archive-date=14 August 2018 |date=2016}}</ref>
| [[Able seaman (rank)|Able rating]]
| Junior rating
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''{{air force|Denmark}}'''<ref name="Denmark_AirForce">{{cite web |title=Flyvevåbnets Gradstegn |url=https://forsvaret.dk/globalassets/fko---forsvaret/dokumenter/gradstegn/-flyvevabnets_gradstegn_2021-.pdf |website=forsvaret.dk |publisher=Danish Defence |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=da |date=2021}}</ref>
| rowspan=4| 
| [[File:Danish-Airforce-OR-2.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Danish-Airforce-OR-1.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Danish Airforce OR-1 elev.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Danish
| {{lang|da|Flyveroverkonstabel}}
| {{lang|da|Flyverkonstabel}}
| {{lang|da|Flyverkonstabelelev}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Literal translation
| Senior air constable
| Air constable
| Air constable trainee
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Official translation<ref>{{cite web |title=Badges and Insignia of the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF)|url=https://www2.forsvaret.dk/viden-om/generelt/gradstegn/Documents/Air%20Force%202018.pdf |website=forsvaret.dk |access-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814165915/https://www2.forsvaret.dk/viden-om/generelt/gradstegn/Documents/Air%20Force%202018.pdf |archive-date=14 August 2018 |date=2018}}</ref>
| [[Junior technician]]
| [[Aircraftman]]
| [[Recruit training|Recruit]]
|}

===Finland===
In the [[Law enforcement in Finland|Finnish Police]], the lowest rank of [[police]] officer is called ''nuorempi konstaapeli'', translated into English as (junior) constable.<ref>[http://www.police.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/Pages/00FFD94F50737E44C2256BB800440F18 Rank insignia of a constable] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325232923/http://www.police.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/Pages/00FFD94F50737E44C2256BB800440F18 |date=2012-03-25 }}, Finnish Police website (in English)</ref>

The next rank is ''vanhempi konstaapeli'' or senior constable.

The next highest rank (equivalent to a police [[sergeant]] in the English-speaking world) is ''ylikonstaapeli'' (''yli-'' "leading"), literally "over-constable".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.police.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/Pages/9EE2C8FCADCC3EE3C2256BB80043C3FE |title=Rank insignia of a senior constable |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325233155/http://www.police.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/Pages/9EE2C8FCADCC3EE3C2256BB80043C3FE |archivedate=2012-03-25 |website=Finnish Police  |language=English}}</ref>

===Hong Kong===
The [[Hong Kong Police Force]] have two ranks for constables:

* Senior constable—lead officer in a beat patrol; SPCs wear a single chevron on their shoulder above their unique identification (UI) number.
* Constable—officer in a beat patrol; PCs wear no insignia other than the unique identification (UI) number.

Senior constable is not a rank: it is merely a designation for officers who have served for 18 years.

===India===

{{main|Police ranks and insignia of India}}

Police constable (abbreviated PC) is the lowest police rank in India, below [[head constable]]. General [[Law enforcement in India|law and order]] being a [[State List|state subject]] in India, each [[States and union territories of India|state government]] recruits police constables. A police constable has no shoulder insignia, while a head constable has one or more stripes or chevrons, depending on the state. Since each state has its own police force, the uniforms and insignia of the police vary, though the [[List of police ranks in India|rank structure]] is the same.

In the [[Kerala Police|Kerala State Police]], the designations for personnel in the ranks of constable and head constable are Civil Police Officer (CPO) and Senior Civil Police Officer (SCPO), respectively.

The [[Central Armed Police Forces]] (CAPF), under the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] of the [[Government of India]], also maintain the same ranks as state police even though their jurisdiction varies considerably, with the constables recruited to the CAPF having to do duty all over India. They perform duties such as maintaining internal security, [[Border guard|border guarding]], and counter-insurgency operations and [[riot control]]. Similarly, the [[Railway Protection Force]] (RPF) maintains the ranks of Constable and Head Constable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RPF |url=https://rpf.indianrailways.gov.in/RPF/Recruitments/Completed.jsp |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=rpf.indianrailways.gov.in}}</ref> However, their duties and jurisdiction are specifically focused on the Indian railway network. RPF personnel are responsible for protecting railway property, preventing accidents, and ensuring passenger safety. Nearly all the police constables wear [[khaki]]-coloured uniforms, which indicate that they are police personnel.

Generally there are three types of constables in India, depending upon the unit, wing, branch or section they are attached to. Civil police constables are attached to a [[police station]], traffic police constables control road traffic, telecommunication constables manage communications, whereas armed police constables are attached to armed police units. The types of constables are based on nature of their duties. The Indian police constables do a wide range of duties like patrol, beat system, crime detection, escorting of prisoners and VIPs, guarding vital offices and installations, vehicle traffic control on roads, riot control, assisting civil administration during disasters, epidemics and elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bprd.nic.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/6798203243-Volume%202.pdf |title=Functions, Roles and Duties of Police in General |publisher=BPRD |access-date= 3 January 2021}}</ref> Generally a police constable does his duty in his jurisdiction area, but can be assigned anywhere by his superiors depending on the situation or need. The duty hours of Indian police constables are erratic, many times without weekly time off or leave.

Police recruitment is based on a written test, plus physical and medical tests. After appointment all police constables have to undergo compulsory training; the duration of training may vary from nine months to one year depending on state. The training and duty of police is physically and mentally strenuous in India.

=== New Zealand ===
[[File:New Zealand Police OR-1.svg|thumb|187x187px|Rank epaulette insignia of a constable [[New Zealand Police]]]]
The [[New Zealand Police]] rank structure is heavily influenced by the [[Metropolitan Police]] rank structure and as such constable is the lowest sworn rank in the police service. There are three constable grades within the New Zealand Police, being probationary constable, constable and senior constable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What's in a rank? |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/news/ten-one-magazine/whats-rank |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}</ref> The New Zealand Police does not have a [[chief constable]] instead having a [[Police commissioner|commissioner]] which combines the role of [[Chief executive officer|chief executive]] and chief constable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commissioner and Executive |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/commissioner-and-executive |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}</ref> The rank epaulette insignia of a probationary constable and constable is a lack of any insignia on the [[rank slide]]. The rank epaulette insignia of a senior constable is a single [[Chevron (insignia)|chevrons]] on the rank slide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Police insignia |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/history/insignia |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}</ref>

Constables in [[New Zealand]] have powers under the [[Policing Act 2008]], a police employee receives these powers and becomes a constable by swearing the [[oath]] under section 22 of the Policing Act 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policing Act 2008 No 72 (as at 28 October 2021), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation |url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2008/0072/latest/whole.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.legislation.govt.nz}}</ref> After becoming a sworn officer a police employee will leave the [[Royal New Zealand Police College]] and be promoted from recruit to probational constable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Career Pathways {{!}} New Cops {{!}} New Zealand Police Recruiting |url=https://www.newcops.govt.nz/about-the-job/career-pathways |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}</ref> A probationary constable will be promoted to constable once they obtaining permanent appointment which is 10 workplace assessment standards which usually takes around two years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pay and Benefits {{!}} New Cops {{!}} New Zealand Police Recruiting |url=https://www.newcops.govt.nz/about-the-job/pay-benefits |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Police Instructions Policy.pdf |url=https://fyi.org.nz/request/19200/response/74199/attach/html/3/Police%20Instructions%20Policy.pdf.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=fyi.org.nz}}</ref> All police officers in the New Zealand Police are referred to in legislation as constables even if they are a sergeant or above and do not hold the rank of constable. For example the charge for assaulting a police officer is assaulting a constable even if the police officer assaulted was a sergeant or above and does not hold the rank title of constable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summary Offences Act 1981 No 113 (as at 28 October 2021), Public Act 10 Assault on Police, prison, or traffic officer – New Zealand Legislation |url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1981/0113/latest/DLM53530.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.legislation.govt.nz}}</ref> 

Unlike many police services in the New Zealand Police, [[Detective|detectives]] are constables and do not outrank their frontline counterparts.

===Norway===
In the [[Norwegian Police Service]] the rank {{lang|no|politikonstabel}} was until 2003 the lowest rank in the police, the next ranks being "politioverkonstabel", "politibetjent", "politiførstebetjent", "politioverbetjent" and "politistasjonssjef", "lensmann" or "sysselmannsoverbetjent" (all officially translated as chief superintendent). In 2003, the ranks "politikonstabel", "politioverkonstabel" and "politibetjent" were renamed "politibetjent 1", "politibetjent 2" and "politibetjent 3", where "politibetjent 1" is the entry-level rank for a policeman and most junior rank of the police service. All ranks higher than chief superintendent are commissioned ranks, known simply as "higher ranks", and traditionally required a law degree.

The Norwegian Police Service has an integrated prosecution service in which the police lawyers, who all hold higher ranks, require the law degree "[[cand.jur.|candidatus/candidata juris]]" or "Master of Laws" (''master i rettsvitenskap''), awarded after five or six years of law studies. Following reforms of the police, a law degree is no longer required by law for all higher ranks, although only lawyers can act as prosecutors and supervise criminal investigations, for which reason it is still common for those holding higher ranks to be lawyers. The entry-level rank for a lawyer, junior police prosecutor, outranks the most senior rank for a policeman, chief superintendent, as the former is the most junior of the "higher ranks" whereas the latter is the most senior of the "lower ranks".

The fire brigades (all municipal) still use "konstabel" as in "brannkonstabel" (fire-constable).

In 2016 the Royal Norwegian Navy started using "konstabel" to describe the enlisted ranks in the navy. Other ranks (OR) 2 to 4+ all use the term "konstabel":

* OR 2 Visekonstabel
* OR 3 Ledende Visekonstabel
* OR 4 Konstabel
* OR 4+ Ledende Konstabel

===Pakistan===
In [[Pakistan]], constable and head constable are, respectively, the lowest and second-lowest ranks in the police force.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pakistanhotline.com/2016/11/pakistan-police-ranks-badges-and-grades.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204194009/http://www.pakistanhotline.com/2016/11/pakistan-police-ranks-badges-and-grades.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 4, 2016|title = Pakistan Police Officer Ranks, Badges and Grades| date=19 November 2016 }}</ref> The police constables in [[Pakistan]] do a wide range of duties like patrol, crime detection, escort of prisoners and VIPs, vehicle traffic control on roads, riot control, assisting civil administration during disasters, epidemic, elections and other tasks.

=== Poland ===
In [[Poland]], the constable ([[Polish language|Polish]]: ''posterunkowy'') is the lowest rank in the [[Police of Poland|Police]]. The next rank in hierarchy is the senior constable ([[Polish language|Polish]]: ''starszy posterunkowy''), and then, the [[sergeant]]. To be promoted, the police officer has to serve as a constable for a year, and again for a year as a senior constable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20220001176|website=isap.sejm.gov.pl|language=pl|title=Rozporządzenie Ministra Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji z dnia 18 maja 2022 r. zmieniające rozporządzenie w sprawie umundurowania policjantów|date=18 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20100270135|title=Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 5 lutego 2010 r. w sprawie stopni policyjnych, Agencji Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego, Agencji Wywiadu, Biura Ochrony Rządu, Państwowej Straży Pożarnej, Służby Kontrwywiadu Wojskowego, Służby Wywiadu Wojskowego, Służby Więziennej lub Straży Granicznej odpowiadających poszczególnym stopniom wojskowym|language=pl|website=isap.sej.gov.pl}}</ref>

===Singapore===
In [[Singapore]], a police constable (abbreviated to PC) is the lowest rank in the [[Singapore Police Force]].

The rank of special constable exists, but is centralised under the [[Volunteer Special Constabulary]] in Singapore.

===South Africa===
In [[South Africa]], this rank is the lowest in the [[South African Police Service]]

[[File:SouthAfrice-Police-Constable.svg|100px|thumb|alt=The Constable rank of the South African Police Service.|Constable rank of the [[South African Police Service|SAPS]]]]

===Sri Lanka===
In [[Sri Lanka]], the [[Sri Lanka Police]] have the rank of "police constable", with four classes.

===United Kingdom===
{{main|Police ranks of the United Kingdom|Special Constabulary|War Reserve Constable}}
[[File:Met PC Epaulette.svg|thumb|upright|An [[epaulette]] showing an officer's divisional code (DF) and individual number.]]
[[File:Very friendly MPS officers in London.jpg|thumb|Police officers in the United Kingdom are holders of the office of constable.]]
There are two main definitions of a constable in the United Kingdom:
*The lowest rank of a police force.
*A legal term for an officer with [[Powers of the police in England and Wales|the powers of a police officer]].
The latter usage is mainly in formal contexts, including legislation such as the [[Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984]]. By this definition all police officers are constables, even those that do not hold the actual rank of constable. The head of most police forces is a [[chief constable]], volunteer officers of any rank are known as [[Special Constabulary|special constables]], and some police forces have the word "Constabulary" in their name.

===United States===
{{Main|Constables in the United States}}

In the United States, use of the term constable is varied, and use may differ within a state. A constable may be an official responsible for [[service of process]], such as [[summons]]es and [[subpoena]]s for people to appear in court in criminal and/or civil matters; on the other hand, they can be fully empowered [[Police|law enforcement]] officers. Constables may also have additional specialized duties unique to the office. In some states, a constable may be appointed by the governor or a judge or magistrate of the court which he or she serves; in others the constable is an elected or appointed position at the state or local level of local government. Their jurisdiction can vary from statewide to county/parish and local township boundaries based on the state's laws.

The office developed from its British counterpart during the colonial period. Prior to the modernization of law enforcement which took place in the mid-19th century, local law enforcement was performed by constables and [[Watchmen (law enforcers)|watchmen]].<ref>[http://faculty.ncwc.edu/TOCONNOR/205/205lect04.htm A Brief Guide to Police History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216153655/http://faculty.ncwc.edu/TOCONNOR/205/205lect04.htm |date=2007-12-16 }}, North Carolina Wesleyan College</ref> Constables were appointed or elected at the local level for specific terms and, like their UK counterparts the [[parish constable]], were not paid and did not wear a uniform. However, they were often paid a fee by the courts for each [[writ]] served and [[Warrant (law)|warrant]] executed. Following the example of the British [[Metropolitan Police]] established in 1829, the states gradually enacted laws to permit municipalities to establish police departments. This differed from the UK in that the old system was not uniformly abolished in every state. Often the enacting legislation of the state conferred a police officer with the powers of a constable, the most important of these powers being the [[common law]] power of arrest. Police and constables exist concurrently in many jurisdictions. Perhaps because of this, the title "constable" is not used for police of any rank. The lowest rank in a police organization would be officer, deputy, patrolman, [[Trooper (police rank)|trooper]] and, historically, [[private (rank)|private]], depending on the particular organization.

In many states, constables do not conduct patrols or preventive policing activities. In such states the office is relatively obscure to its citizens.

A constable may be assisted by deputy constables as sworn officers or constable's officers as civil staff, usually as process servers. In some states, villages or towns, an office with similar duties is [[marshal]].