A
police force is a constituted body of persons empowered by the
state to
enforce the law, protect property, and limit
civil disorder. Their powers include the
legitimized use of force. The term is most commonly associated with police services of a
sovereign state that are authorized to exercise the
police power of that state within a defined legal or territorial area of responsibility. Police forces are often defined as being separate from
military or other organizations involved in the defense of the state against foreign aggressors; however,
gendarmerie are military units charged with civil policing.