Chief Superintendent
Encyclopedia
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police
forces organised on the British
model.
In the British police
, a chief superintendent (Ch Supt; or colloquially "chief super") is senior to a superintendent
and junior to an assistant chief constable
(or a commander in the Metropolitan Police
or City of London Police
).
The highest rank below Chief Officer
level, chief superintendents were first introduced into the Metropolitan Police in 1949, when superintendents were regraded to the new rank, and have since been adopted in all British police forces. However, the rank had been used previously to this in some forces in certain circumstances (e.g. in the early part of the 20th century the deputy head of the Shropshire Constabulary bore the official title of "chief superintendent and deputy chief constable").
Between 1949 and 1968, chief superintendent was junior to deputy commander
in the Metropolitan Police, and between 1953 and 1974 it was immediately senior to superintendent grade I.
Traditionally, chief superintendents have commanded division
s, but since widespread reorganisation in the 1990s many forces have abandoned divisions for different forms of organisation and the areas commanded by chief superintendents vary widely from force to force. In most forces, however, they still command the largest territorial subdivisions, often known generally as Basic Command Unit
s (BCUs). The rank of chief superintendent was abolished on 1 April 1995 following recommendations made in the Sheehy Report, except for officers already holding the rank. The Home Office
officially reintroduced the rank of chief superintendent on 1 January 2002.
The senior detective
and commander of the Criminal Investigation Department
in most forces is a detective chief superintendent (DCS) (although in the Metropolitan Police, a DCS may only command a branch of the CID and the head of CID in each district was formerly also a DCS) and the rank of chief superintendent may also be used by the commanders of other headquarters departments.
The rank badge, worn on the epaulette
s, is a bath star ("pip") below a crown, the same rank badge worn by a lieutenant-colonel in the British Army
. Metropolitan Police chief superintendents wore a crown over two stars until the abolition of the rank of superintendent grade I in 1974, when they changed to the same rank badge as worn elsewhere in the country.
A chief superintendent's annual salary starts at £74,394 and rises to £78,636 (as of September 2010).
, a chief superintendent wears two stars below a crown, equivalent to a Colonel
.
's national police force, the rank of chief superintendent is between superintendent
and assistant commissioner
. Chief superintendents usually command divisions, while detective chief superintendents head the various investigative branches.
, a chief superintendent of police (CSP) ranks between a senior superintendent (SSP) and an assistant commissioner of police (ACP). A CSP is usually a district commander (DC) or a branch/bureau commander (e.g. Narcotics Bureau). The commandant
of the police tactical unit is also a CSP.
in all the Australian police forces excepting the Western Australia Police
, where the rank of assistant commissioner
is used in the place of chief superintendent; it is junior to the rank of commander
(Victoria Police, South Australia Police) and the rank of assistant commissioner
(New South Wales Police, Queensland Police). Officers wear the insignia of a crown over two Bath Stars (or in the case of the New South Wales Police, a crown over two stars) the same as a Colonel
in the army.
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
forces organised on the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
model.
United Kingdom
Policing in the United Kingdom
Law enforcement in the United Kingdom is organised separately in each of the legal systems of the United Kingdom: England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland ....
, a chief superintendent (Ch Supt; or colloquially "chief super") is senior to a superintendent
Superintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
and junior to an assistant chief constable
Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant chief constable is the third highest rank in all British territorial police forces , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and...
(or a commander in the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
or City of London Police
City of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
).
The highest rank below Chief Officer
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
level, chief superintendents were first introduced into the Metropolitan Police in 1949, when superintendents were regraded to the new rank, and have since been adopted in all British police forces. However, the rank had been used previously to this in some forces in certain circumstances (e.g. in the early part of the 20th century the deputy head of the Shropshire Constabulary bore the official title of "chief superintendent and deputy chief constable").
Between 1949 and 1968, chief superintendent was junior to deputy commander
Deputy Commander
Deputy commander was a rank in the London Metropolitan Police which existed between 1946 and 1968.In 1946, the rank of chief constable, which was between superintendent and deputy assistant commissioner, was renamed deputy commander. At the same time, the rank of deputy assistant commissioner was...
in the Metropolitan Police, and between 1953 and 1974 it was immediately senior to superintendent grade I.
Traditionally, chief superintendents have commanded division
Police division
A division was the usual term for the largest territorial subdivision of most British police forces. In major reforms of police organisation in the 1990s divisions of many forces were restructured and retitled Basic Command Units , although some forces continue to refer to them as divisions.The...
s, but since widespread reorganisation in the 1990s many forces have abandoned divisions for different forms of organisation and the areas commanded by chief superintendents vary widely from force to force. In most forces, however, they still command the largest territorial subdivisions, often known generally as Basic Command Unit
Basic Command Unit
A Basic Command Unit is the largest unit into which territorial British Police forces are divided. This may actually be called a BCU or may have another designation, such as Division or Area. There are 228 BCUs in England and Wales.Most forces are divided into at least three BCUs and some have...
s (BCUs). The rank of chief superintendent was abolished on 1 April 1995 following recommendations made in the Sheehy Report, except for officers already holding the rank. The Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
officially reintroduced the rank of chief superintendent on 1 January 2002.
The senior detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
and commander of the Criminal Investigation Department
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
in most forces is a detective chief superintendent (DCS) (although in the Metropolitan Police, a DCS may only command a branch of the CID and the head of CID in each district was formerly also a DCS) and the rank of chief superintendent may also be used by the commanders of other headquarters departments.
The rank badge, worn on the epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s, is a bath star ("pip") below a crown, the same rank badge worn by a lieutenant-colonel in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. Metropolitan Police chief superintendents wore a crown over two stars until the abolition of the rank of superintendent grade I in 1974, when they changed to the same rank badge as worn elsewhere in the country.
A chief superintendent's annual salary starts at £74,394 and rises to £78,636 (as of September 2010).
Canada
In the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
, a chief superintendent wears two stars below a crown, equivalent to a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
Ireland
In An Garda Siochana, the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's national police force, the rank of chief superintendent is between superintendent
Superintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
and assistant commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
Assistant commissioner is a rank used in many police forces across the globe. It is also a rank used in revenue administrations in many countries.-Australia:...
. Chief superintendents usually command divisions, while detective chief superintendents head the various investigative branches.
Hong Kong
In the Hong Kong Police ForceHong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force is the largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. It is the world's second, and Asia's first, police agency to operate with a modern policing system. It was formed on 1 May 1844, with a strength of 32 officers...
, a chief superintendent of police (CSP) ranks between a senior superintendent (SSP) and an assistant commissioner of police (ACP). A CSP is usually a district commander (DC) or a branch/bureau commander (e.g. Narcotics Bureau). The commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the police tactical unit is also a CSP.
Australia
In Australia, a chief superintendent is senior to the rank of superintendentSuperintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
in all the Australian police forces excepting the Western Australia Police
Western Australia Police
The Western Australia Police services an area of 2.5 million square kilometres, the world's largest non-federated area of jurisdiction. In 2008, its 7,526 employees included 5,647 police officers.-History:-Early history:...
, where the rank of assistant commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
Assistant commissioner is a rank used in many police forces across the globe. It is also a rank used in revenue administrations in many countries.-Australia:...
is used in the place of chief superintendent; it is junior to the rank of commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
(Victoria Police, South Australia Police) and the rank of assistant commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
Assistant commissioner is a rank used in many police forces across the globe. It is also a rank used in revenue administrations in many countries.-Australia:...
(New South Wales Police, Queensland Police). Officers wear the insignia of a crown over two Bath Stars (or in the case of the New South Wales Police, a crown over two stars) the same as a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the army.