An auxiliary force of the Royal Irish Constabulary. The demands of the Irish Republicans for a free Ireland led in 1919 to violence by the Irish Republican Army against the Royal Irish Constabulary, an armed police force. Many of the policemen resigned, so the British government in 1920 reinforced the RIC with British ex-soldiers. Their distinctive temporary uniforms gave them their nickname of Black-and-Tans. They adopted a policy of harsh reprisals against republicans, many people being killed in raids and property destroyed. Public opinion in Britain and the USA was shocked and the Black-and-Tans were withdrawn after the Anglo-Irish truce in 1921.