Police rank

Lists of the ranks of various police agencies and forces all around the World:

Contents

Australia

Generally, all police forces of Australia follow this rank structure with some individual state police forces have ranks differing slightly.

Insignia of rank displayed on epaulette in italics and brackets

For an overview of all distinct state and federal rank structures, see Australian police ranks.

Belgium

Brazil

Brazil has several different police forces, each with its own ranks. At a federal level, there are the Federal Police (Policia Federal, the equivalent to the FBI), the Federal Road Police (Policia Rodoviaria Federal) and the Train Network Police (Policia Ferroviaria Federal). At a state level, there are the Military Police (Policia Militar, not to be confused to the Army police, which has a purely internal function) and the Civil Police (Policia Civil). At a city level, there are the City Guard (Guarda Municipal). In terms of staff, the Military Police and the Civil Police are the most important one, although in terms of headlines and prestige, the Federal Police is the one that concentrates most of the media attention.[1]

In theory, the Civil Police is responsible for investigating crimes whilst the Military Police is responsible for preventing them to take place, although it is not rare to see their functions clashing and ever so often they actually have open confronts.

The Civil Police is organized accordingly to functions. Escrivao is the low rank position responsible for the internal work inside the police premises (e.g., collecting witness statements). Detetives (detectives) is the low rank position responsible for actions outside the premises (e.g., investigating the circumstances of a crime). Inspetor is a senior detective. And delegados are senior officials (generally required to have law degrees) responsible for the lower ranks and for coordinating the whole work (investigations) of the Civil Police. The delegados also have the assistance of peritos, which are the technical body (CSI-like). The Federal Police follows a very similar structure to the Civil Police.

The ranks listed below are valid for the state military police agencies (such as PMMG, PMESP, PMERJ and others) and are listed, respectively, from higher to lower ranks:

The 2nd class soldier and the cadet are considered to be students in the formation courses and have no street policing duties (except in a very few cases, as probationary tours). Despite closely resembling the rank structure within the Brazilian army, there are no rank of general in the military police forces, as the Military Police is slotted under the Army control in case of war, with is colonels slotting under the Army generals.

Canada

Ranks of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police[2]:

Police Ranks for Provincial (With the exception of the Sûreté du Québec and Alberta Sheriffs) and the majority of Municipal Police Services as follows [3][4][5]:

Police Ranks for the Alberta Sheriffs [6]:

Ranks of the Sûreté du Québec[7]:

Ranks of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal [8]:

Canadian Auxiliary Police Ranks as follows:

Chile

POLICIA DE INVESTIGACIONES DE CHILE (PDI)

CARABINEROS DE CHILE

Sub-Oficiales

China

Croatia

Regular Police ranks

Special Intervention Police ranks

Denmark

Main article: Danish police

Finland

France

Main article: Police nationale

CORPS DE CONCEPTION ET DE DIRECTION

CORPS DE COMMANDEMENT

CORPS D'ENCADREMENT ET D'APPLICATION

EMPLOI JEUNE (5 ans / 5 years)

Germany

The following ranks are in use by state police forces. Detective Ranks follow the same scheme, replacing the word Polizei with Kriminal, for example a plainclothed detective lieutenant is called Kriminalkommissar. The Federal Police of Germany basically follows the scheme, but deviates in the flag ranks.

Politically appointed

They are comparable to military flag (General) officers, and are appointed by the state Minister of Interior (Senators of Interior in City-States). For federal agencies the federal Minister of Interior is responsible. They are usually specialists in public administration and have a master-level law degree. Since they are outside of the career system, they receive payment according to the B-scale of public officer payment grades.

Higher echelon

Comparable to military staff officers, Major and above. The ranks are available for applicants who completed master level university studies, usually in law. It is possible for officers from the elevated echelon to obtain a master degree from the Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei, so they can enter higher ranks.

Elevated echelon

Comparable to military officers, Lieutenant and above. The ranks are obtained after receiving a bachelor level degree of a state college of public administration. In several states of Germany this is the lowest echelon for service entry, the medium service echelon is being abolished.

Medium echelon

Comparable to military non-commissioned officers. Those ranks are usually obtained during or after two years service in training companies (Ausbildungshundertschaften) of the Bereitschaftspolizei. The ranks are indicated by light blue (with blue uniform) or light green (with green-brown uniform) stars.

There have been lower ranks in use in earlier times, with the abolishment of the basic echelon, they have been out of use since the 1980s.

Pre-commission

Greece

The ranks of the Greek police; 1. the Greek name; 2. the old military name; 3. the new ranks (police style).

Hong Kong

See also: Hong Kong Police Force#Ranks

Iceland

Main article: Icelandic National Police#Ranks
  1. National Commissioner
  2. Vice National Commissioner, Police chief, Headmaster of the National Police School
  3. Vice Police Chief of Reykjavík, Deputy Police Chief
  4. Chief Constable
  5. Vice Chief Constable
  6. Chief Sergeant, Assistance Chief Constable
  7. Sergeant, Inquisitor
  8. Policeman
  9. Police Intern, Temporary Replacement Officer, District Police Officer

India

Main Articles : List of Police Ranks in India and Indian Police Service (I.P.S.)

Gazetted officers include all the Indian Police Service officers and all State Police Services officers of and above the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) or Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in State Police and Metropolitan Police forces respectively.

Ranks of Gazetted Officers

Ranks of Non-Gazetted Officers

Insignia of Gazetted and Non-Gazetted Officers

Indian Police Service Officer Rank Insignia
Insignia
Rank Director of Intelligence Bureau (GOI)¹ Commissioner of Police (State) or Director General of Police² Joint Commissioner of Police or Inspector General of Police Additional Commissioner of Police or Deputy Inspector General of Police Deputy Commissioner of Police or Senior Superintendent of Police Deputy Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police or Additional Superintendent of Police Assistant Commissioner of Police or Deputy Superintendent of Police Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary Rank: 2 years of service) Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary Rank: 1 year of service)
Abbreviation DIB CP or DGP JCP or IGP ADL.CP or DIG DCP or SSP DCP or SP ADL.DCP or ASP ACP or DSP ASST.SP ASST.SP
  • ¹ Although DIB is a 4 star post and not a rank, it's given to the senior most IPS officer in Intelligence Bureau.
  • ² Rank insignia of CP/DGP is similar to Spl.CP/ADGP (not shown above).
  • Note: Commissioner of Police designation can only be used by ADL.CP/DIG, JCP/IGP and CP/DGP, where the latter is called Commissioner of Police (State) and the former ones Commissioner of Police (City).
Indian State Police Gazetted Officer Rank Insignia
Insignia
Rank Deputy Commissioner of Police or Senior Superintendent of Police Deputy Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police or Additional Superintendent of Police Assistant Commissioner of Police or Deputy Superintendent of Police
Abbreviation DCP or SSP DCP or SP ADL.DCP or ASP ACP or DSP
  • Note: Gazetted officers belonging to Indian State Police Service(s) lie between ranks ACP/DSP and DCP/SSP.
    • To gain promotion to ADL.CP/DIG rank, officers undergo training and hence are awarded IPS.
Indian State Police Non-Gazetted Officer Rank Insignia
Insignia No Insignia¹
Rank Inspector of Police Sub-Inspector of Police Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Police Head Constable Senior Police Constable Police Constable
Abbreviation INS SI ASI HPC SPC PC
  • ¹ Police Constable has no insignia except the khaki uniform.
  • Note: Colour pattern and size of chevron may vary according to the different rules of several distinct Indian State Police Services.

Indonesia

Main article: Indonesian National Police

Iraq

Main article: Iraqi Police

The Iraqi Police is made up of three branches, under the command of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, these being the Iraqi Police Service which tasked with general patrol of Iraq's cities, the National Police which are a paramilitary organisation which deals with incidents that are beyond the control of the Iraqi Police, but are not so serious the Iraqi Army are involved, and the supporting force that is made up of the Department of Border Enforcement.[9]

Iraqi Police Service ranks, ordered lowest to highest with symbol on epaulette:[10]

Italy

See Italian State Police Ranks

Ireland

Ranks of An Garda Síochána (Guardians of the Peace) the Police service in the state of Ireland.

Ranks of the Garda Síochána
Rank Student Reserve Student Garda Sergeant Inspector Superintendent Chief
Superintendent		 Assistant
Commissioner		 Deputy
Commissioner		 Commissioner
Insignia

Japan

South Korea

Latvia

ierindnieks/Private

Kursants

Kaprālis/Corporal

Seržants/Sergeant

Virsseržants/First sergeant

Virsnieka vietnieks/Warrant Officer

Leitnants/ Lieutenant

Virsleitnants/First lieutenant

Kapteinis / Captain

Majors/ Major

Pulkvežleitnants/Lieutenant Colonel

Pulkvedis/ Colonel

Ģenerālis/ police general

Lithuania

A class officers

B class officers

C class officers

Macau

Malaysia

Below shown are the rank structure of the Royal Malaysian Police.

Netherlands

Norway

Police ranks of Norway
Norwegian Politidirektør Assisterende
politidirektør		 Politimester Visepolitimester Politiinspektør
og
Politiadvokat		 Politiadvokat Politifullmektig
Rank National
Police
Commissioner		 Assistant
National
Commissioner		 Chief of Police Deputy
Chief of Police		 Assistant
Chief of Police		 Police
Prosecutor		 Junior Police
Prosecutor
Insignia
Norwegian Politistasjonssjef
og
Lensmann		 Politioverbetjent Politiførstebetjent Politibetjent 3 Politibetjent 2 Politibetjent 1 Politi
reserven
Rank Police Chief
Superintendent		 Police
Superintendent		 Police
Chief Inspector		 Police Inspector Police Sergeant Police Constable Police
Reserve
Insignia

Source: Norwegian National Police[11]

Pakistan - Rangers

The following ranks are observed in the top para-military force of Pakistan

Commissioned officers

Philippines

Main article: Philippine National Police#Ranks

The following ranks are observed in the PNP as of 2009 with the following:[12]

Commissioned officers

Note: Rank in Italics is the Army equivalent. There is no Second Lieutenant rank-equivalent in the PNP.

Non-commissioned officers

Note: Rank in Italics is the Army equivalent. There is no Private rank-equivalent in the PNP.

Poland

Police ranks of Poland
Group Generals Senior Officers Junior Officers
Polish inspektor
generalny		 nadinspektor inspektor młodszy
inspektor		 podinspektor nadkomisarz komisarz podkomisarz
Rank General
Inspector		 Chief
Inspector		 Inspector Junior
Inspector		 Deputy
Inspector		 Chief
Commissioner		 Commissioner Deputy
Commissioner
Insignia
Group Aspirants Non-commissioned Officers Constables
Polish aspirant sztabowy starszy aspirant aspirant młodszy aspirant sierżant sztabowy starszy sierżant sierżant starszy posterunkowy posterunkowy
Rank Staff
Aspiring		 Senior
Aspirant		 Aspirant Junior
Aspirant		 Staff
Sergeant		 Senior
Sergeant		 Sergeant Senior Constable Constable
Insignia

Romania

Main article: Romanian Police#Ranks

Serbia

See also: Law enforcement in Serbia

Singapore

Below shown are the rank structure of the Singapore Police Force

Sri Lanka

Gazetted Officers
Non-Gazetted Officers

South Africa

The functional rank structure of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

In the SAPS, ranks indicate the seniority of police officials. The most senior rank in the police service is that of National Commissioner. The person who has this rank is the head of the organization.

As from 1 April 2010 the "new" functional rank structure is as follows:

Senior Management - Commissioned officers

• General (Gen) • Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) • Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) • Major General (Maj Gen) • Brigadier

Commissioned Officers

• Colonel (Col) • Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) • Major (Maj) • Captain • Lieutenant (Lt)

Non-commissioned officers

• Warrant Officer (W/O) • Sergeant (Sgt) • Constable (Const)

SOURCE:www.saps.gov.za

The pre- April 2010 rank structure

Spain

Cuerpo Nacional de Policía

Guardia Civil - Civil Guard

Basque Country

Ertzaintza - Basque Police

Catalonia

Mossos d'Esquadra - Catalonian Police

Ranks of the Mossos d'Esquadra
Rank Mosso Caporal Sergent Sotsinspector Inspector Intendent Comissari Major
Insignia

Navarre

Policía Foral (Foruzaingoa in Basque) - Navarrese Police

Taiwan (The Republic of China)

Main article: National Police Agency (Republic of China)#Ranks

Thailand

สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ (samnak ngan tamruat haeng chat) - Royal Thai Police

Commissioned officers

Non-commissioned officers

Turkey

Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü - Turkish Police

United Kingdom

See also: Police ranks of the United Kingdom

The British police ranks that exist today were deliberately chosen so that they do not mirror British Military ranks, due to public concern about military intervention into civil disorder.

Each officer upon joining the police is sworn in legally as a Constable, which is also the title of the starting rank. While at the rank of Constable, each officer is required to undergo a two-year probationary period and work in a uniformed policing role. After the two year period has passed, the individual officer may apply for promotion to the first supervisory rank of Sergeant or a specialised role.

The prefix 'detective' is given to officers who are trained in criminal investigations, who are usually assigned to the Criminal Investigation Department or other investigative units. However, just because an officer has detective status it does not automatically mean they have seniority over non-detectives. For example, a uniformed Constable and a Detective Constable are equal in rank.

Many forces in the United Kingdom have several different branches, such as the road policing unit and support unit. In some, officers are uniformed due to the roles requiring such, others are staffed by plain-clothes detectives.

Most territorial police forces and special police forces outside of London, have a standard set of ranks:

Ranks up to Chief Superintendent can be held in either a uniformed or detective capacity, whereas after that the "Chief Officer" ranks are concerned with the overall management and effective running of the force.

Within London's Metropolitan Police Service the ranks are identical to those outside London, until Chief Superintendent. In London, the chief officer ranks are:

United Kingdom police ranks (up to Chief Superintendent)
Rank Police
Constable		 Sergeant Inspector Chief
Inspector		 Superintendent Chief
Superintendent
Insignia
United Kingdom police ranks (chief officers)
County police
force rank		 Assistant
Chief Constable		 Deputy
Chief Constable		 Chief Constable
City of London
Police rank		 Commander Assistant
Commissioner		 Commissioner
Metropolitan
Police rank		 Commander Deputy
Assistant
Commissioner		 Assistant
Commissioner		 Deputy
Commissioner		 Commissioner
Insignia

The Special Constabulary, which is made up of volunteer police officers with identical powers to regular officers, maintains its own ranking structure (varies, but most common):

The Special Constabulary in Scottish police forces does not maintain any rank structure and all members of the Special Constabulary are Special Constables regardless of length of service/experience, etc. Special Constables are always subordinate to regular Constables.

Traffic wardens and Police Community Support Officers do not have a rank structure.

United States

Main article: Police ranks of the United States

The United States police rank model is generally quasimilitary in structure. Although the large and varied number of federal, state, and local police departments and sheriff's office have different ranks, a general model, from highest to lowest rank, would be:

Venezuela

[13]

Vietnam

Công an Nhân dân Việt Nam - People's Police of Vietnam

Commissioned officers

Highest Rank

Middle Rank

Low Rank

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.paraentenderdireito.org/livro.html
  2. ^ http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/about-ausujet/organi-eng.htm
  3. ^ http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/rank/
  4. ^ http://vancouver.ca/police/recruiting/police-officers/policing.html#Advancement
  5. ^ http://www.edmontonpolice.ca//~/media/EPS%20External/Files/Reports/2008AnnualReport.ashx
  6. ^ http://www.chr.alberta.ca/Practitioners/?file=staff/mrs/s/sheriff-security-transport&cf=4#level1
  7. ^ http://www.sq.gouv.qc.ca/mission-et-services/publications/csp-information-guide-for-members.pdf
  8. ^ http://www.spvm.qc.ca/en/carrieres/5_1_1_3_grades.asp
  9. ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/iraq/ips.htm
  10. ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/iraq/images/iraq-police-ranks.jpg
  11. ^ "PNP ranks". Norwegian National Police. http://www.pdmt.politiet.no/publikasjoner/reglement/politi/604104_police_rank_and_insignia_table/604104.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-29. 
  12. ^ "PNP ranks". Philippine National Police. http://www.pnp.gov.ph/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55:police-ranks&catid=25:organization&Itemid=66. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 
  13. ^ www.consejopolicia.gob.ve