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This article is about a historical law enforcement unit. For modern law enforcement units, which are sometimes named city guard, see municipal police.

City guard, city watch, town guard or town watch was a law enforcement formation found in some countries and historical periods, usually subordinate to the local municipal government. Historically many cities had their own guard formations, which doubled as police and military force in times of need.

With the unification of laws and centralization of state power (e.g. the Municipal Police Act of 1844 in New York City, United States), such formations became increasingly incorporated into state-run police force (see metropolitan police and municipal police).

City guard in fiction

• Ankh-Morpork City Watch

See also

• Colombo Town Guard
• militia
• Schutterij
• Watchman (law enforcement)