The MSP, initially known as Malappuram Special Police, originated in 1884 as a paramilitary unit tasked with managing the Malabar rebellion under British rule.

[3] In the 1921 Moplah Revolt, Malabar (the present districts of Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and parts of Thrissur) witnessed a wave of popular unrest and other law and order problems.After MSP officers armed with Martini Henry single shot rifles failed to control the rebellion , Richard Hitchcock, the then District Superintendent of Police of South Malabar came up with the idea of raising a police unit armed and equipped similar British Indian infantry battalion to deal with the revolt.This suggestion, strongly endorsed by the District Magistrate, was accepted by the Viceroy's Government on 30 September 1921, which then sanctioned the creation of 6 companies consisting of 6 British officers, 8 Subedars, 16 Jemadars, 60 Havildars and 600 Constables.The recruits were trained in Kannur and by an Indian Civil Service Officer, a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police and demobilized officers from the army.The force effectively suppressed the rebellion and gained fame due to its use of guerrilla tactics against the rebels.

[3] In the following year, members of the force were drafted into Madras Presidency to counter the rebellion in the Rampa area that was being led by Alluri Sitarama Raju.

Local forces had been unable to match the guerilla tactics of Raju in the forested areas, for which the Malabar unit were considered to be specialists.

Noteworthy collaborations include deployments alongside Assam Rifles and Bihar Military Police to address insurgency issues in Nagaland.