Principal Officer
Encyclopedia
Principal officer is a rank
used in HM Prison Service, the Scottish Prison Service
and the Northern Ireland Prison Service
, as well as other prison services around the world. It is the highest uniformed rank, above senior officer
and below the grades of governor
. A principal officer traditionally headed each wing of a prison. Their rank badge is two Bath stars ("pips") on each epaulette
.
Rank
-Position within a command hierarchy requiring obedience:*Military rank* Police rank* Fire service rank* Nobility, ranks of nobility and peerage* Catholic Church hierarchy* Diplomatic rank* Taxonomic rank, a position within a taxonomy...
used in HM Prison Service, the Scottish Prison Service
Scottish Prison Service
The Scottish Prison Service is an executive agency of the Scottish Government tasked with managing prisons in Scotland...
and the Northern Ireland Prison Service
Northern Ireland Prison Service
The Northern Ireland Prison Service is an executive agency of the Department of Justice, the headquarters of which are in Dundonald House in the Stormont Estate in Belfast....
, as well as other prison services around the world. It is the highest uniformed rank, above senior officer
Senior Officer (rank)
Senior officer is a rank used in HM Prison Service, the Scottish Prison Service and the Northern Ireland Prison Service, as well as other prison services around the world. It is senior to an ordinary prison officer, but junior to a principal officer. Senior officers traditionally headed shifts in...
and below the grades of governor
Prison Governor
In the UK, a Prison Governor is responsible for the management and security of a prison, jail, remand centre and young offenders' institution. In India and Pakistan, the head of a District, Central, Women or special Prison/Jail is called Superintendent of Jail, Superintendent Jail, Senior...
. A principal officer traditionally headed each wing of a prison. Their rank badge is two Bath stars ("pips") on each 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...
.