Inspector-general of police

An Inspector General of Police or Inspector-General of Police is a senior officer in the police force or police service of several nations. The rank usually refers to the head of a large regional command within a police service, and in many countries refers to the most senior officer of the entire national police.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, the Inspector General of Police heads the Bangladesh Police.

Ghana

In Ghana, Inspector General of Police is the title of the head of the Ghana Police Service.

India

The insignia of an Inspector General of Police in India.

In India, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) until 1973 was the highest rank in the Indian police.

Currently, in India, the Inspector General of Police or Joint Commissioner of Police is a two-star rank officer and one of the most senior officers in the state police forces. All inspectors general and joint commissioners in state police forces are Indian Police Service officers. They are in some states the commissioner of police for the city, that is they head a police force for a particular city. Inspectors general in Central Armed Police Forces (BSF, CISF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP) are either Indian Police Service (IPS) officers or directly appointed gazetted officers (DAGOs), who are directly appointed assistant commandants (through UPSC entrance test from the year 2005 onwards). The rank insignia of an inspector general of police or joint commissioner of police is one star above a crossed sword and baton.

IGP in India are in the same rank and pay of Joint Secretary to Government of India.

The post of Inspector General of Police was created by Sardar Patel for Mr. DW Mehra, who served as the first IG of New Delhi.

Indonesia

In Indonesia, an Inspector General of Police (Inspektur Jenderal Polisi) holds the second highest rank of the Indonesian National Police (equivalent to a major general in the Indonesian National Armed Forces).

Kenya

In Kenya, the top-ranked police officer is the Inspector-General of Police, who has the overall command of the Kenya National Police Service. In the event of a vacancy arising, the procedure for appointment of the Inspector-General is:^[1][2]

• within 14 days the National Police Service Commission (hereafter "the Commission"), by notice in the Gazette and at least two other daily newspapers of national circulation, declares the vacancy, and requests for applications;
• the Commission conducts public interviews and shortlists at least three persons qualified for the position which are then published in the Gazette;
• within seven days from shortlisting, the Commission forwards the shortlisted names to the President for nomination;
• within seven days of receipt of the names, the President nominates a person for appointment and submits the name of the nominee to Parliament for approval;
• within fourteen days thereafter, Parliament vets and considers the nominee, and either approves or rejects the nomination;
• Parliament notifies the President as to its approval or rejection;
• if Parliament approves the nominee, within seven days of receiving the notification the President, by notice in the Gazette, appoints the nominee as the Inspector-General of the National Police Service .
• where Parliament rejects the nominee submitted by the President, the Speaker of the National Assembly communicates its decision to the President and requests a fresh nominee.
• in submitting a new nominee, within seven days the President submits to Parliament a fresh nomination from amongst the persons shortlisted and forwarded by the Commission.

The IG is charged with the overall administrative management of the police force, exercises independent command over the National Police Service and performs any other functions prescribed by national legislation. Consequently, (s)he reports directly to the President and is also a member of the National Security Council, chaired by the President.^[3] Under the IG are two Deputy Inspector-Generals who command the Kenya Police Service and the Administration Police Service respectively. The Inspector-General is appointed for a single four-year term, and is not eligible for re-appointment. (S)he may be removed from office by the President only on the grounds of:^[4]

• serious violation of the Constitution of Kenya or any other law, including a contravention of Chapter Six of the Constitution;
• gross misconduct whether in the performance of the office holder’s functions or otherwise;
• physical or mental incapacity to perform the functions of office;
• incompetence;
• bankruptcy; or
• any other just cause.

Malawi

In Malawi, the Inspector General of Police is the head of the Malawi Police Force. It is an appointed position in the gift of the President of Malawi.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, the Inspector-General of Police heads the Royal Malaysia Police.

Nepal

In Nepal, the Inspector General of Police is the highest rank of the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force.

Nigeria

An Inspector-General of Police heads the Nigeria Police Force.

Pakistan

An Inspector General of Police (IGP) is the head of policing in a province of Pakistan. He has 21/22 scale.

Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone the Inspector General of Police is the head of the Sierra Leone Police force. He heads the force (nationally), which is one of the oldest continuously operational police services in Africa. He is assisted by a Deputy Inspector General, and several Assistant Inspectors General.^[5]

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the Inspector General of Police heads the Sri Lanka Police Service.

Uganda

The Inspector General of Police is the highest rank in the Uganda Police Force (UPF). Since 2001, the position has been held by a two-star military general of the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF).

United Kingdom

In Northern Ireland, the chief officer of the former Royal Ulster Constabulary (now replaced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland) was titled inspector general until 1970, when following a review the post was renamed chief constable.

References