Editing Special Branch (section)

==India==
The Special Branch is a separate wing in the [[state police]] agencies in India. Like their counterparts in the United Kingdom, they deal with matters of state security. However, more serious espionage detection is the responsibility of the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] (IB), India's federal internal security agency. The nomenclature varies from state to state, such as ''State Special Branch'' (SSB), ''Special Branch CID'' (SB-CID), ''State Intelligence Department'' (SID),etc.

The Special Branch functions at the state level and is headed by a senior-ranked officer, the [[Additional director general of police|Additional Director General of Police]] (ADGP). The State Special Branch is responsible for collecting, assessing, and collating significant intelligence and communicating it to the government through periodic and special reports. The special branch functions as an intelligence agency and as the eyes and ears of the respective state governments. The special branch consists of several units such as Intelligence, Security, Internal Security, and sub-units like the extremist cell, digital surveillance unit, organized crime cell, VVIP security, bomb detection disposal squad, foreigners cell, passport verification, etc." 

There have been many allegations that the Special Branch is used by the ruling government for setting up surveillance on their political opponents. The Special Branch has its own Detective [[Constable]]s, Head Constables, [[Inspector]] rankings and superior police officer rankings. Every police station is to have a Special Branch head constable or Assistant [[Sub-Inspector]] (ASI) (working plain clothes or ''[[Mufti (dress)|Mufti]]''), he would be observing the society in general, and also taking reports from the uniformed police constables on general patrol. The special branch staff play a very important role in collecting advance intelligence about law and order matters as well as illegal activities like [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] plantation/transportation, illicit attacks, etc. They forward the information to the respective [[Superintendent of police (India)|Superintendents of police]] for necessary action.