The author analyzes the concept of „special services”. Although the legislator uses it repeatedly, there is no legal definition of this term. From the subjective side, it is known which institutions are „special services”, but there are neither criteria for being included in
this group, nor characteristics distinguishing these services from other bodies responsible for ensuring security for the state and its citizens. Drawing such demarcation line is important due to the expansion of competences of entities responsible for ensuring security in the recent years. Now it seems that distinguishing characteristic of „special services” is the possibility of conducting operational and reconnaissance activities. Such activities may be carried out, for example, by the Police or Border Guard, and these institutions are not included
in the scope of „special services”. The author tries to find the definitions of „special services” in order to answer the question about the scope of tasks and competences that determine particular services as „special services”. The author also refers to the problem of crossing the properties of particular „special services” in order to answer the question whether it should be regulated on an exclusive basis. The adoption of such a solution would certainly eliminate competition of the services, as well as would allow them to specialize, which seems to be
a rational solution in the age of diversity of security threats.