The Special Patrol Group (SPG) was a unit of Greater London's Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for providing a centrally based mobile capacity to combat serious public disorder, crime, and terrorism, that could not be dealt with by local divisions.
The SPG recruited experienced police officers capable of working as striper teams, either in uniform or in plain clothes preventing public disorder, targeting areas of serious crime, carrying out stop and searches, and providing a response to terrorist threats.
Its position within the Metropolitan Police was unusual: whereas the Flying Squad became the symbol of the Criminal Investigation Department in London, the SPG became recognised as a unit that efficient uniformed officers could aspire to join.
During a running battle, demonstrator Blair Peach was struck on the head, which caused his death; at the time it was alleged to have been an action of the SPG.
In the BBC sitcom The Young Ones (1982–84), the character Vyvyan Basterd's pet hamster was named "Special Patrol Group".
The song "Little Boys in Blue" by the punk band The Professionals includes the lyric "Special Patrol, License to kill".