Did ancient rome have any equivalence of a police force? (Roman, military)

[Gerobime227]

I mean obviously thieves, murderers, rapists, con artists, etc. have always existed, but in ancient rome if you were a roman citizen was there any kind of police force so to speak you could go to to get help/justice?

[mensaguy]

Look at all the articles:

https://www.google.com/search?q=anci...client=gws-wiz

[bale002]

Originally Posted by Gerobime227

I mean obviously thieves, murderers, rapists, con artists, etc. have always existed, but in ancient rome if you were a roman citizen was there any kind of police force so to speak you could go to to get help/justice?

I remember studying a statute in the Codex Theodosianus c. 438, regulating the behavior of university students in the cities of Rome and Constantinople, empowering local police to expel them for drunkenness, destruction of property, etc.

The introductions to these statutes are often literary works of art and at times they even wax comical.

Some things never change.

[Dd714]

Interesting question because I just assumed the Roman military was responsible for upholding the law in the city, but it took me exactly 5 seconds to google:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigile...ancient%20Rome.

"The Vigiles or more properly the Vigiles Urbani ("watchmen of the City") or Cohortes Vigilum ("cohorts of the watchmen") were the firefighters and police of ancient Rome."

[NJ Brazen_3133]

I dont know about Rome,

but I believe Athens used to hire Scythians to act as police within the city. Apparently it was easier to distinguish them from regular Athenians.