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Ipoh Special Constabulary Training School Cadets Marching Past Brewster Road
This photograph shows the Ipoh Special Constabulary Training School Contingent marching past the Ipoh New Town (Brewster Road) in 1953. During the Emergency, European miners and planters were targeted for ambush and assassination by the guerrillas. Hence, special constables and armoured trucks were used to protect them while on the way to and from the mines and plantations.
During the first three months of Emergency in 1948, about 24,000 Malays were enrolled as Special Constables. They immediately assumed the role, were posted as guards and given firearms, while being trained when time permitted. These measures assured the Europeans to continue their investment in Malaya and put a stop to the first stage of Communist Emergency plan.
Subsequently as they gained experience, these 'Specials' duties were expanded and they took on the role of guarding 'New Villages' established by the 'Briggs Plan' and also joined the regular police in anti-terrorist jungle patrols.
Auxiliary Police were quite different, being drawn from those already employed like planters, tin miners, or business people, etc. Nonetheless, they were Auxiliary Police under the authority of the Federation of Malaya Police, although they did not receive payment for auxiliary duties. They were issued with weapons by the government or could buy their own but they had to be licensed. The title of "Auxiliary" police officers of any rank simply gave them the authority to carry weapons.
To read more about ‘New Villages’ and the ‘Briggs Plan’, click here.