<Li> Local civilian police </Li> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Operational structure </Th> </Tr> <P> The Black and Tans (Irish: Dúchrónaigh), officially the Royal Irish Constabulary Special Reserve, was a force of Temporary Constables recruited to assist the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) during the Irish War of Independence . The force was the brainchild of Winston Churchill, then British Secretary of State for War . Recruitment began in Great Britain in late 1919 . Thousands, many of them British Army veterans of World War I, answered the British government's call for recruits . Most of the recruits came from Britain, although it also had some members from Ireland . Their role was to help the RIC maintain control and fight the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the army of the Irish Republic . The nickname "Black and Tans" arose from the colours of the improvised uniforms they initially wore, composed of mixed khaki British Army and rifle green RIC uniform parts . The Black and Tans became infamous for their attacks on civilians and civilian property . </P> <P> The Black and Tans were sometimes confused with the Auxiliary Division, a counter-insurgency unit of the RIC made up of former British officers . However, sometimes the term "Black and Tans" is used to cover both of these groups . </P>

What does black and tan mean in ireland
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