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Special Branch

British

noun

(in Britain) the department of the police force that is concerned with political security

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Many speculated that the Special Branch was responsible.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Special Branch, which typically handles national security and intelligence in the U.K., “never bothered to prepare overseas trips,” relying instead on local security forces.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025

Haggarty replied: "Special Branch doesn't come into my thoughts. I don't care about them".

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2023

He told the court that he told his Special Branch handlers about the plan as soon as he was made aware of it.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2023

At this moment, Special Branch Detective Sergeant Heiberg entered the office and said, “Hello, Nelson!” in a pleasant way.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023