UK police ranks
Encyclopedia
Most of the police forces of the United Kingdom
use a standardised set of ranks, with a slight variation in the most senior ranks for Greater London
's Metropolitan Police Service
and the City of London Police
. Most of the British police ranks that exist today were chosen by Home Secretary
Sir Robert Peel
, the founder of the Metropolitan Police, enacted under the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829
. The ranks at that time were deliberately chosen so that they did not correspond with military ranking (with the exception of Sergeant), due to fears of a paramilitary
force.
s. However, when in formal uniform Sergeants wear their rank insignia on their upper sleeves. When police tunics had closed collars (not open collars as worn with ties), Constables and Sergeants did not wear epaulettes but had their divisional call number on their collar (hence the fact that they are still often referred to as collar number
s). Sergeants wore their stripes on their upper sleeve. Inspectors and more senior ranks wore epaulettes at a much earlier stage, although they once wore their rank insignia on their collars. Most forces no longer use divisional call numbers, and retain only the collar number and rank insignia.
The above ranks are used by all territorial forces
in the United Kingdom
, and the specialist
national forces: the British Transport Police
, Ministry of Defence Police
, and Civil Nuclear Constabulary
. Other specialist forces, and those outside of the United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands
, the Isle of Man
and Gibraltar
) use the same general system, but often have fewer senior ranks.
In Britain, Chief Constable
is the title of the head of each British territorial police force except the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police, which are headed by Commissioner
s. Ranks above Chief Superintendent
are usually non-operational management roles, and are often referred to as "Chief Officer" ranks. The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police is often considered to be the highest police rank within the United Kingdom, although in reality every Chief Constable and the two Commissioners are supreme over their own forces and are not answerable to any other officer.
Epaulettes are normally black with white sewn on or silver metal insignia, although high-visibility
uniforms are often yellow with black insignia.
Usually senior officers wear distinguishing marks around the outer edge of the peaks of their caps (or under the capbadge for female officers, who do not wear peaked caps). Normally this is a raised black band for inspectors and chief inspectors, a silver or gold band for superintendents and chief superintendents, and a row of silver or gold oakleaves for chief officers. Chief constables, the Commissioner of the City of London Police, and all commissioner ranks of the Metropolitan Police wear oakleaves on both the outer and inner edges of their peaks (or a double row beneath the capbadge for female officers).
has fewer ranks above Chief Superintendent:
The City of London Police Commissioner has the unique status of not holding the office of constable, but it is classed as a Justice of the Peace. This was the same for the Metropolitan Police Service until recent years with Sir Paul Condon being the last Commissioner to have this status, along with his deputies. The Commissioner has the power to attest his own officers as constables without putting them before a local Magistrate to do so, as happened in the Metropolitan Police.
The City of London Police
also have variations for some acting ranks such as Sergeant
and Inspector
. Acting Sergeants, are denoted by 3 pointed chevrons above the collar number. Sergeants have the chevrons below the collar number. Acting Inspectors are denoted by a crown in the place of division letter, whilst keeping the collar number and chevrons.
was headed by an Inspector-General and had a different rank structure until 1969, when it fully adopted the rank system used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The RUC has now been replaced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland
, which uses the same ranks, but has a different version of the rank insignia, with the star from the PSNI badge replacing the crown. Unusually, the star is worn below the pip by Chief Superintendents and by the Chief Constable, who wears both symbols above his tipstaves. The PSNI has retained the RUC's distinctive inverted (point-up) Sergeants' chevrons.
has fewer ranks above Superintendent:
, in Kent.
Some authorities are matters of force or national or force policy and not subject to law, such as authorising the use of tyre deflation devices
, and authorising the use of safe controlled crashes of pursued vehicles, by trained traffic police officers
.
In relation to police officer
s of the Home Office
or territorial police force
s of England and Wales, Section 30 of the Police Act 1996 states that "a member of a police force shall have all the powers and privileges of a Constable throughout England and Wales and the adjacent United Kingdom waters". Police officers do not need to be on duty to exercise their powers and can act off duty if circumstances require it (technically placing themselves back on duty). Officers from the police forces of Scotland and Northern Ireland and non-territorial special police forces have different jurisdictions. See List of police forces in the United Kingdom for a fuller description of jurisdictions.
(CID) or Special Branch
(and certain other units) have the prefix "Detective
" before their rank. Due to the nature of their duties these officers generally wear plain clothes and so do not wear the corresponding rank insignia. However, they still operate within the same structure as uniformed officers. It is a misconception often portrayed by the media that detective ranks are superior to those of uniformed officers. In the United Kingdom this is not the case, and a Detective Sergeant has the same powers and authority as a uniformed Sergeant. The "Detective" prefix designates that the officer has a proven investigative ability and has received suitable training and passed related examinations, to conduct all manner of criminal investigations.
Some police forces use the prefix "T" before the rank (e.g. T/DS, T/DI, T/CI) to denote officers who have been temporarily promoted to those ranks, but who will return to their substantive rank at some future time. Such officers are paid at the higher rank and to all intents and purposes hold that higher rank, albeit temporarily. In contrast, the prefix "A" (denoting "Acting") is used for those who are 'acting up', for example, A/PS (Acting Police Sergeant, formally denoted by two chevrons in the Metropolitan Police Service) or A/DS (Acting Detective Sergeant).
Acting and Temporary ranks have the powers of that higher rank, so long as they are so designated by a senior officer. For example, a Sergeant may act as an Inspector as long as this is approved by a Superintendent or above.
tab on their stab vest or on a badge attached to their shirt or tunic. Officers in all forces of the rank of inspector or above do not usually wear their numbers.
In most forces these identification numbers are simple numbers, with 1 to 5 digits.
The Metropolitan Police, being a much bigger force, uses a different system:
The Borough Code is a two-letter code preceding collar numbers. Before the reorganisation into boroughs, each division
had a different code. A few other forces still use divisional codes.
s are volunteer police officers who have exactly the same powers as a regular officer, and (with minor exceptions) wear the same uniform and are issued the same equipment. The roles of "specials" can vary greatly from force to force, though normally include working with local regular officers to provide an additional and heightened police presence on the streets and in the local community. They may also be requested to police particular events such as football matches and community events.
In the special constabulary, there are various grades which assist in the tasking and management of the constabulary. The ranks are management grades, those holding them are not "sergeants" or "inspectors" for the purposes of the law (for example, authorisations to order the removal of disguises or to set up roadblocks) and are "outranked" by regular officers of any rank. Originally, specials held the same ranks and used the same rank insignia as regular officers, but there was a general shift to distinct terms such as "area officer" and "divisional officer" in the 1980s. However, recent national practice has been for most special constabularies to revert to the regular ranks (with the prefix "Special"), although , only Merseyside Police have also reverted to regular rank insignia.
Special constabulary epaulettes frequently bear the letters "SC" (with or without a crown above) to differentiate them from regular officers, however with some forces, such as the Avon and Somerset Constabulary
, British Transport Police
, Hampshire Constabulary
, Northamptonshire Police
, Nottinghamshire Police
, Lancashire Constabulary and Cheshire Constabulary
, only the collar number designates them as a special constable. Some forces, such as Essex Police
, have no difference in markings from that of regular officers.
Senior special constables wear the same markings on their cap peaks as equivalent regular ranks.
does not use the SC logo.
also includes the Honourable Artillery Company Specials, members of which wear "HAC" on their epaulettes in addition to other insignia.
does not use the SC logo. Collar numbers range from 3000 to 3999 and from 4500 to 4999.
uses the SC logo incorporating a crown. Collar numbers begin with a 7. The rank structure was changed in 2010.
does not use the SC logo.
uses 4-digit collar numbers beginning with an 8.
does not use the SC logo.
does not use the SC logo.
are the first special constabulary to revert to using the rank insignia of regular officers rather than the system of bars. The SC logo incorporates a crown.
uses the following grades:
does not use the SC logo. Collar numbers range from 3000 to 3999. The force lead for the Special Constabulary is a regular Chief Inspector supported by a Special Superintendent.
does not use the SC logo. Collar numbers begin with a 5 (5000-5999).
uses the following grades:
does not use the SC logo.
uses the crown in its SC logo. Shoulder numbers used to range from 8000 to 8999 but now exceed this.
uses the SC logo incorporating a crown. Ranks changed at the end of 2009. Collar numbers have four digits, beginning with a 3.
does not use the SC logo. Until 2009 it used Special Constable collar number blocks. Collar numbers have four digits, beginning with an 8. There are no Special Constables above the grade of Senior Section officer. The force lead for specials is a regular Chief Inspector.
s although that term is not used anywhere in the Police Reform Act 2002, which created the role) in general do not have a rank system: their epaulettes simply bear the words "POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER" and their shoulder number, or, in the Metropolitan Police, a borough identification code and shoulder number.
South Yorkshire Police
and Kent Police
have PCSO Supervisors. In South Yorkshire they wear a bar above the words "Police Community Support Officer Supervisor" and the shoulder number.
s are administered by the police and exercise some police powers to control traffic or issue fixed penalty notice
s for traffic offences; their epaulettes bear their shoulder number and the words TRAFFIC WARDEN.
They are not to be confused with local authority civil enforcement officer
s (formerly parking attendant
s) who, under decriminalised parking enforcement
, have powers to issue fixed penalty notices for breaches of parking laws on highways or in local authority car parks and compel the production of a disabled parking permit
(blue badge) for inspection.
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 ....
use a standardised set of ranks, with a slight variation in the most senior ranks for Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
's Metropolitan Police Service
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...
and the 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...
. Most of the British police ranks that exist today were chosen by Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
Sir Robert Peel
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
, the founder of the Metropolitan Police, enacted under the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829
Metropolitan Police Act 1829
The Metropolitan Police Act 1829 was an Act of Parliament introduced by Sir Robert Peel and passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act established the Metropolitan Police of London , replacing the previously disorganized system of parish constables and watchmen...
. The ranks at that time were deliberately chosen so that they did not correspond with military ranking (with the exception of Sergeant), due to fears of a paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
force.
Rank insignia
Badges of rank are usually worn on the epauletteEpaulette
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. However, when in formal uniform Sergeants wear their rank insignia on their upper sleeves. When police tunics had closed collars (not open collars as worn with ties), Constables and Sergeants did not wear epaulettes but had their divisional call number on their collar (hence the fact that they are still often referred to as collar number
Collar number
A collar number, also known as a shoulder number, Force Identification Number or occasionally as Force Number , identifies uniformed officers, Police Community Support Officers , and some police staff in UK police forces. Although now displayed on epaulettes A collar number, also known as a...
s). Sergeants wore their stripes on their upper sleeve. Inspectors and more senior ranks wore epaulettes at a much earlier stage, although they once wore their rank insignia on their collars. Most forces no longer use divisional call numbers, and retain only the collar number and rank insignia.
The above ranks are used by all territorial forces
Territorial police force
The phrase Territorial Police Force varies in precise meaning according to the country to which it is related, generally distinguishing a force whose area of responsibility is defined by sub-national boundaries from others which deal with the entire country or a restricted range of...
in the United Kingdom
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...
, and the specialist
Special police
Special Police does not have a consistent international meaning. In many cases it will describe a police force or a unit within a police force whose duties and responsibilities are significantly different from other forces in the same country or significantly different from other police in the same...
national forces: the British Transport Police
British Transport Police
The British Transport Police is a special police force that polices those railways and light-rail systems in Great Britain for which it has entered into an agreement to provide such services...
, Ministry of Defence Police
Ministry of Defence Police
The Ministry of Defence Police is a civilian police force which is part of the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence. The force is part of the larger government agency, the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency , together with the Ministry of Defence Guard Service...
, and Civil Nuclear Constabulary
Civil Nuclear Constabulary
The Civil Nuclear Constabulary is a special police force responsible for providing law enforcement and security at civil nuclear installations, and for nuclear materials in transit, throughout the United Kingdom....
. Other specialist forces, and those outside of the United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
and Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
) use the same general system, but often have fewer senior ranks.
In Britain, Chief Constable
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...
is the title of the head of each British territorial police force except the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police, which are headed by Commissioner
Police commissioner
Commissioner is a senior rank used in many police forces and may be rendered Police Commissioner or Commissioner of Police. In some organizations, the commissioner is a political appointee, and may or may not actually be a professional police officer. In these circumstances, there is often a...
s. Ranks above Chief Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces organised on the British model.- United Kingdom :In the British police, a chief superintendent is senior to a superintendent and junior to an assistant chief constable .The highest rank below Chief Officer level, chief...
are usually non-operational management roles, and are often referred to as "Chief Officer" ranks. The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police is often considered to be the highest police rank within the United Kingdom, although in reality every Chief Constable and the two Commissioners are supreme over their own forces and are not answerable to any other officer.
Epaulettes are normally black with white sewn on or silver metal insignia, although high-visibility
High-visibility clothing
High-visibility clothing, a type of personal protective equipment , is any clothing worn that has highly reflective properties or a colour that is easily discernible from any background. Yellow waistcoats worn by emergency services are a common example....
uniforms are often yellow with black insignia.
Usually senior officers wear distinguishing marks around the outer edge of the peaks of their caps (or under the capbadge for female officers, who do not wear peaked caps). Normally this is a raised black band for inspectors and chief inspectors, a silver or gold band for superintendents and chief superintendents, and a row of silver or gold oakleaves for chief officers. Chief constables, the Commissioner of the City of London Police, and all commissioner ranks of the Metropolitan Police wear oakleaves on both the outer and inner edges of their peaks (or a double row beneath the capbadge for female officers).
City of London Police
The City of London PoliceCity 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...
has fewer ranks above Chief Superintendent:
- Commander (Cmdr)
- Assistant CommissionerAssistant CommissionerAssistant 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:...
(AC) - CommissionerCommissionerCommissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
The City of London Police Commissioner has the unique status of not holding the office of constable, but it is classed as a Justice of the Peace. This was the same for the Metropolitan Police Service until recent years with Sir Paul Condon being the last Commissioner to have this status, along with his deputies. The Commissioner has the power to attest his own officers as constables without putting them before a local Magistrate to do so, as happened in the Metropolitan Police.
The 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...
also have variations for some acting ranks such as Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
and Inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
. Acting Sergeants, are denoted by 3 pointed chevrons above the collar number. Sergeants have the chevrons below the collar number. Acting Inspectors are denoted by a crown in the place of division letter, whilst keeping the collar number and chevrons.
Royal Ulster Constabulary/Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Royal Ulster ConstabularyRoyal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
was headed by an Inspector-General and had a different rank structure until 1969, when it fully adopted the rank system used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The RUC has now been replaced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
, which uses the same ranks, but has a different version of the rank insignia, with the star from the PSNI badge replacing the crown. Unusually, the star is worn below the pip by Chief Superintendents and by the Chief Constable, who wears both symbols above his tipstaves. The PSNI has retained the RUC's distinctive inverted (point-up) Sergeants' chevrons.
Isle of Man Constabulary
The Isle of Man ConstabularyIsle of Man Constabulary
The Isle of Man Constabulary is the organisation responsible for policing the Isle of Man, an island of 80,000 inhabitants situated equidistant from Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.-Structures and Deployment:...
has fewer ranks above Superintendent:
- Deputy Chief ConstableDeputy Chief ConstableDeputy chief constable is the second highest rank in all territorial police forces in the United Kingdom , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear...
(DCC) - Chief ConstableChief ConstableChief 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...
Miscellaneous constabularies
There are, in the United Kingdom, a number of miscellaneous constabularies. These are not operated, regulated or funded by the Home Office, although they are fully authorised (by Act of Parliament) establishments. In general they provide the policing for ports, docks, tunnels, or other particular institutions. Although these forces tend to require high standards of training and accountability, which closely mirror those of the Home Office police forces, they are usually much smaller in terms of personnel, and therefore utilise fewer of the 'standard' ranks. One example is shown below, being the rank structure of the Port of Dover PolicePort of Dover Police
The Port of Dover Police is a small non-Home Office police service which provides a 24 hour policing service to the Port of Dover, Kent, England.-Organisation & Role:...
, in Kent.
Powers
In law, every member of a police force is a Constable whatever their actual rank, in the sense that despite being a low ranking or high ranking officer all have the same powers of arrest. The basic police powers of arrest and search of an ordinary Constable are identical to those of a Superintendent or Chief Constable; however certain higher ranks are given administrative powers to authorise certain police actions. In England and Wales, these include the powers to:- authorise the continued detention of up to 24 hours of a person arrested for an offence and brought to a police stationPolice stationA police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
(granted to Sergeants and above at designated police stations), - authorise section 18 (1) PACEPolice and Criminal Evidence Act 1984The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is an Act of Parliament which instituted a legislative framework for the powers of police officers in England and Wales to combat crime, as well as providing codes of practice for the exercise of those powers. Part VI of PACE required the Home Secretary...
house searches (granted to Inspectors and above), or - extend the length of prisoner detention to 36 hours (granted to Superintendents).
Some authorities are matters of force or national or force policy and not subject to law, such as authorising the use of tyre deflation devices
Spike strip
A spike strip is a device used to impede or stop the movement of wheeled vehicles by puncturing their tires...
, and authorising the use of safe controlled crashes of pursued vehicles, by trained traffic police officers
Road Policing Unit
The Road Policing Unit is the term for the Highway patrol within the majority of British police forces.-Responsibilities:RPUs work with the National Roads Policing Strategy, which has five strands:* Casualty reduction.* Counter-terrorism....
.
In relation to police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s of 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,...
or territorial police force
Territorial police force
The phrase Territorial Police Force varies in precise meaning according to the country to which it is related, generally distinguishing a force whose area of responsibility is defined by sub-national boundaries from others which deal with the entire country or a restricted range of...
s of England and Wales, Section 30 of the Police Act 1996 states that "a member of a police force shall have all the powers and privileges of a Constable throughout England and Wales and the adjacent United Kingdom waters". Police officers do not need to be on duty to exercise their powers and can act off duty if circumstances require it (technically placing themselves back on duty). Officers from the police forces of Scotland and Northern Ireland and non-territorial special police forces have different jurisdictions. See List of police forces in the United Kingdom for a fuller description of jurisdictions.
Detectives
Officers holding ranks up to and including Chief Superintendent who are members of the Criminal Investigation DepartmentCriminal 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,...
(CID) or Special Branch
Special Branch
Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security in British and Commonwealth police forces, as well as in the Royal Thai Police...
(and certain other units) have the prefix "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"...
" before their rank. Due to the nature of their duties these officers generally wear plain clothes and so do not wear the corresponding rank insignia. However, they still operate within the same structure as uniformed officers. It is a misconception often portrayed by the media that detective ranks are superior to those of uniformed officers. In the United Kingdom this is not the case, and a Detective Sergeant has the same powers and authority as a uniformed Sergeant. The "Detective" prefix designates that the officer has a proven investigative ability and has received suitable training and passed related examinations, to conduct all manner of criminal investigations.
Trainee, temporary and acting ranks
Uniformed Constables who are training to become Detective Constables sometimes bear the title "T/I" meaning Trainee Investigator or "T/DC" meaning Trainee Detective Constable.Some police forces use the prefix "T" before the rank (e.g. T/DS, T/DI, T/CI) to denote officers who have been temporarily promoted to those ranks, but who will return to their substantive rank at some future time. Such officers are paid at the higher rank and to all intents and purposes hold that higher rank, albeit temporarily. In contrast, the prefix "A" (denoting "Acting") is used for those who are 'acting up', for example, A/PS (Acting Police Sergeant, formally denoted by two chevrons in the Metropolitan Police Service) or A/DS (Acting Detective Sergeant).
Acting and Temporary ranks have the powers of that higher rank, so long as they are so designated by a senior officer. For example, a Sergeant may act as an Inspector as long as this is approved by a Superintendent or above.
Identification numbers
All officers have a unique identification number. These are usually referred to as shoulder or collar numbers, referring to the fact that they were once worn on the uniform collar and later on the epaulettes by constables and sergeants. Uniformed officers in many forces still wear them on the epaulettes, but other forces have badges or other ways of displaying their identification numbers. Kent Police, for instance, refers to its numbers as force numbers and officers wear them on a velcroVelcro
Velcro is the brand name of the first commercially marketed fabric hook-and-loop fastener, invented in 1948 by the Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral...
tab on their stab vest or on a badge attached to their shirt or tunic. Officers in all forces of the rank of inspector or above do not usually wear their numbers.
In most forces these identification numbers are simple numbers, with 1 to 5 digits.
The Metropolitan Police, being a much bigger force, uses a different system:
- Sergeant - Borough Code and 1 or 2 digits
- Constable - Borough Code and 3 digits (Though Metropolitan Police constables based in the Borough of Westminster have 4 digits)
- Special Constable - Borough Code and 4 digits, usually beginning with the number 5
- PCSO - Borough Code and 4 digits, the first digit being a 7 or an 8
The Borough Code is a two-letter code preceding collar numbers. Before the reorganisation into boroughs, each 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...
had a different code. A few other forces still use divisional codes.
Special Constables
Special ConstableSpecial constable
A Special Constable is a law enforcement officer who is not a regular member of a police force. Some like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police carry the same law enforcement powers as regular members, but are employed in specific roles, such as explosive disposal technicians, court security, campus...
s are volunteer police officers who have exactly the same powers as a regular officer, and (with minor exceptions) wear the same uniform and are issued the same equipment. The roles of "specials" can vary greatly from force to force, though normally include working with local regular officers to provide an additional and heightened police presence on the streets and in the local community. They may also be requested to police particular events such as football matches and community events.
In the special constabulary, there are various grades which assist in the tasking and management of the constabulary. The ranks are management grades, those holding them are not "sergeants" or "inspectors" for the purposes of the law (for example, authorisations to order the removal of disguises or to set up roadblocks) and are "outranked" by regular officers of any rank. Originally, specials held the same ranks and used the same rank insignia as regular officers, but there was a general shift to distinct terms such as "area officer" and "divisional officer" in the 1980s. However, recent national practice has been for most special constabularies to revert to the regular ranks (with the prefix "Special"), although , only Merseyside Police have also reverted to regular rank insignia.
Special constabulary epaulettes frequently bear the letters "SC" (with or without a crown above) to differentiate them from regular officers, however with some forces, such as the Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Avon & Somerset Constabulary is the territorial police force in England responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Somerset, the city & county of Bristol and the unitary authorities of South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset; before 1996 these districts...
, British Transport Police
British Transport Police
The British Transport Police is a special police force that polices those railways and light-rail systems in Great Britain for which it has entered into an agreement to provide such services...
, Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.The force area includes the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth...
, Northamptonshire Police
Northamptonshire Police
Northamptonshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Northamptonshire in the East Midlands of England.The force area amounts to and has a resident population of 642,708...
, Nottinghamshire Police
Nottinghamshire Police
Nottinghamshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the shire county of Nottinghamshire and the unitary authority of Nottingham in the East Midlands of England. The area has a population of just over 1 million....
, Lancashire Constabulary and Cheshire Constabulary
Cheshire Constabulary
Cheshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the English unitary authorities of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington. The force is responsible for policing an area of with a population of roughly 1 million.The Chief Constable of the...
, only the collar number designates them as a special constable. Some forces, such as Essex Police
Essex Police
Essex Police is a territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Essex in the east of England.It is one of the largest non-metropolitan police forces in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 3,600 police officers and operating across an area of over and with a population of...
, have no difference in markings from that of regular officers.
Senior special constables wear the same markings on their cap peaks as equivalent regular ranks.
Avon and Somerset Special Constabulary
Avon and Somerset Special ConstabularyAvon and Somerset Constabulary
Avon & Somerset Constabulary is the territorial police force in England responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Somerset, the city & county of Bristol and the unitary authorities of South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset; before 1996 these districts...
does not use the SC logo.
- Special Constable (collar number)
- Area Officer (two bars)
- District Officer (three bars)
- Chief Officer (laurel wreath around four bars)
City of London Special Constabulary
The City of London Special ConstabularyCity 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...
also includes the Honourable Artillery Company Specials, members of which wear "HAC" on their epaulettes in addition to other insignia.
- Special Constable (SC logo, divisional letter and shoulder number)
- Special Sergeant (SC logo, divisional letter, shoulder number and one bar)
- Special Inspector (SC logo and two bars)
- Special Chief Inspector (SC logo and three bars) (not currently used)
- Special Superintendent (SC logo and four bars)
- Special Commandant (SC logo and laurel wreath around four bars)
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
Devon and Cornwall Police uses the SC logo. Collar numbers are 5 digits starting with a 7.- Special Constable (SC logo and shoulder number)
- Special Sergeant (SC logo, one bar and shoulder number)
- Special Inspector (SC logo and two bars)
- Special Chief Inspector (SC logo and three bars)
- Special Superintendent (SC logo and four bars)
- Assistant Chief Officer (laurel wreath around two bars)
- Deputy Chief Officer (laurel wreath around three bars
- Chief Officer (laurel wreath around four bars)
Dorset Special Constabulary
Dorset Special ConstabularyDorset Police
Dorset Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the English county of Dorset in the south-west of England.-History:Dorset County Constabulary was formed in 1855. On 1 October 1967 it merged with Bournemouth Borough Police to form Dorset and Bournemouth Constabulary...
does not use the SC logo. Collar numbers range from 3000 to 3999 and from 4500 to 4999.
- Special Constable (collar number)
- Deputy Section Officer (one bar and collar number)
- Section Officer (two bars and collar number)
- Divisional Officer (three bars and collar number)
- Chief Officer (laurel wreath around four bars (formerly four bars) and collar number)
Dyfed-Powys Special Constabulary
Dyfed-Powys Special ConstabularyDyfed-Powys Police
Dyfed-Powys Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and the county of Powys, in Wales. The territory it covers is the largest police area in England and Wales, and the fourth largest in the United Kingdom...
uses the SC logo incorporating a crown. Collar numbers begin with a 7. The rank structure was changed in 2010.
- Special Constable (SC logo and collar number)
- Special Sergeant (SC logo, one bar and collar number)
- Special Inspector (SC logo and two bars)
- Chief Officer (laurel wreath around four bars; previously SC logo and four bars)
Essex Special Constabulary
Essex Police Special ConstabularyEssex Police
Essex Police is a territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Essex in the east of England.It is one of the largest non-metropolitan police forces in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 3,600 police officers and operating across an area of over and with a population of...
does not use the SC logo.
- Special Constable (collar number)
- Special Sergeant (one bar)
- Special Inspector (two bars)
- Special Chief Inspector (three bars)
- Special Superintendent (four bars)
- Special Deputy Chief Officer (laurel wreath around two bars)
- Chief Officer (laurel wreath around three bars)
Gloucestershire Special Constabulary
Gloucestershire Special ConstabularyGloucestershire Constabulary
Gloucestershire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Gloucestershire in England...
uses 4-digit collar numbers beginning with an 8.
- Special Constable (SC logo and collar number)
- Section Officer (SC logo, one bar and collar number)
- Assistant Divisional Officer (SC logo and two bars)
- Divisional Officer (SC logo and three bars)
- Chief Officer (SC logo and four bars)
Hampshire Special Constabulary
Hampshire Special ConstabularyHampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.The force area includes the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth...
does not use the SC logo.
- Special Constable (collar number)
- Sector Officer (one bar and collar number)
- District Officer (two bars)
- Area Officer (three bars)
- Deputy Chief Specials Officer (laurel wreath around three bars)
- Chief Specials Officer (laurel wreath around four bars)
Lancashire Special Constabulary
Lancashire Special ConstabularyLancashire Constabulary
Lancashire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the ceremonial county of Lancashire in the North West England. The force's headquarters are at Hutton, near the city of Preston...
does not use the SC logo.
- Special Constable (collar number)
- Special Sergeant (one bar and collar number)
- Special Inspector (two bars)
- Special Chief Inspector (three bars) (not currently used)
- Deputy Chief Officer (three bars and one half-width bar)
- Special Chief Officer (four bars)
Merseyside Special Constabulary
Merseyside Special ConstabularyMerseyside Police
Merseyside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England. The force area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million...
are the first special constabulary to revert to using the rank insignia of regular officers rather than the system of bars. The SC logo incorporates a crown.
- Special Constable (SC logo and shoulder number)
- Special Sergeant (SC logo, shoulder number and three chevrons)
- Special Inspector (SC logo and two pips)
- Special Chief Inspector (SC logo and three pips)
- Special Superintendent (SC logo and crown)
- Special Assistant Chief Officer (SC logo and crown)
- Special Chief Officer (laurel wreath around four bars)
Metropolitan Special Constabulary
The Metropolitan Special ConstabularyMetropolitan Special Constabulary
The Metropolitan Special Constabulary is the part-time volunteer police force of Greater London's Metropolitan Police Service. Created nearly 180 years ago under the Special Constables Act of 1831, it currently consists of nearly 5,000 volunteer police officers...
uses the following grades:
- Special Constable (SC logo, borough code and shoulder number)
- Special Sergeant (previously Sub Divisional Officer (SDO)) (SC logo, borough code, shoulder number and one bar)
- Special Inspector (previously Divisional Officer (DO) or Borough Divisional Officer (BDO)) (SC logo and two bars)
- Assistant Chief Officer (SC logo and three bars)
- Deputy Chief Officer (SC logo and three bars)
- Chief Officer (SC logo and laurel wreath around four bars; four bars until 2010)
Northamptonshire Special Constabulary
Northamptonshire Special ConstabularyNorthamptonshire Police
Northamptonshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Northamptonshire in the East Midlands of England.The force area amounts to and has a resident population of 642,708...
does not use the SC logo. Collar numbers range from 3000 to 3999. The force lead for the Special Constabulary is a regular Chief Inspector supported by a Special Superintendent.
- Special Constable (collar number)
- Special Sergeant (one bar and collar number)
- Special Inspector (two bars)
- Special Superintendent (crown and small bar)
Nottinghamshire Special Constabulary
Nottinghamshire Special ConstabularyNottinghamshire Police
Nottinghamshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the shire county of Nottinghamshire and the unitary authority of Nottingham in the East Midlands of England. The area has a population of just over 1 million....
does not use the SC logo. Collar numbers begin with a 5 (5000-5999).
- Special Constable (collar number)
- Special Sergeant (collar number and one bar)
- Special Inspector (collar number and two bars)
- Special Superintendent
- Deputy Chief Officer
- Chief Officer
Suffolk Special Constabulary
Suffolk Special ConstabularySuffolk Constabulary
Suffolk Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Suffolk in East Anglia, England.Suffolk Constabulary is responsible for policing an area of , with a population of...
uses the following grades:
- Special Constable (SC logo, Suffolk Constabulary 'castle' and shoulder number)
- Special Sergeant (SC logo, Suffolk Constabulary 'castle', one bar and shoulder number)
- Special Inspector (SC logo and two bars)
- Special Superintendent (SC logo and three bars)
- Chief Officer (laurel wreath around four bars)
Surrey Special Constabulary
Surrey Special ConstabularySurrey Police
Surrey Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Surrey in the south of England.The force is led by Chief Constable Mark Rowley and has its headquarters at Mount Browne, Guildford, Surrey...
does not use the SC logo.
- Special Constable (Surrey Police crest and shoulder number)
- Special Sergeant (Surrey Police crest, one bar and shoulder number)
- Special Inspector (Surrey Police crest and two bars)
- Special Chief Inspector (three bars)
- Assistant Chief Officer (laurel wreath around two bars)
- Deputy Chief Officer (laurel wreath around three bars)
- Chief Officer (laurel wreath around four bars)
Thames Valley Special Constabulary
Thames Valley Special ConstabularyThames Valley Police
Thames Valley Police, formerly known as Thames Valley Constabulary, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the Thames Valley area covered by the ceremonial counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire....
uses the crown in its SC logo. Shoulder numbers used to range from 8000 to 8999 but now exceed this.
- Special Constable (SC logo and shoulder number)
- Special Sergeant (SC logo, one bar and shoulder number)
- Special Inspector (SC logo and two bars)
- Special Chief Inspector (SC logo and three bars)
- Special Superintendent (crown and four bars)
- Chief Officer (laurel wreath around four bars)
Warwickshire Special Constabulary
Warwickshire Special ConstabularyWarwickshire Police
Warwickshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Warwickshire in England. It was known as Warwickshire Constabulary until 2001. It is the second smallest territorial police force in England and Wales after the City of London Police, with only 998.6 regular officers as...
uses the SC logo incorporating a crown. Ranks changed at the end of 2009. Collar numbers have four digits, beginning with a 3.
- Special Constable (SC logo and collar number)
- Special Sergeant (previously Section Officer) (SC logo, one bar and collar number)
- Special Inspector (previously Area Officer) (SC logo and two bars)
- Special Chief Inspector (previously Senior Area Officer) (SC logo and three bars)
- Deputy Chief Officer (SC logo and laurel wreath around three bars; three bars until 2006)
- Chief Officer (SC logo and laurel wreath around four bars; four bars until 2006)
West Mercia Special Constabulary
West Mercia Special Constabulary does not use the SC logo as all officers under the rank of Inspector (regular and special) have the West Mercia Police crest on their epaulettes. All collar numbers have four digits, beginning with either a 4 or a 5. Ranks changed at the end of 2010.- Special Constable (force crest and collar number)
- Special Sergeant (previously Section Officer) (force crest, one bar and collar number)
- Special Inspector (previously Sub Division Officer) (two bars)
- Special Superintendent (previously Commandant) (four bars; previously three bars)
- Chief Officer (previously Chief Commandant) (laurel wreath around four bars; previously four bars)
West Yorkshire Special Constabulary
West Yorkshire Special ConstabularyWest Yorkshire Police
West Yorkshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing West Yorkshire in England. It is the fourth largest force in England and Wales by number of officers, with 5671 officers....
does not use the SC logo. Until 2009 it used Special Constable collar number blocks. Collar numbers have four digits, beginning with an 8. There are no Special Constables above the grade of Senior Section officer. The force lead for specials is a regular Chief Inspector.
- Special Constable (collar number)
- Section Officer (one bar and collar number)
- Senior Section Officer (two bars and collar number)
Community Support Officers
Community Support Officers (often referred to as Police Community Support OfficerPolice community support officer
A police community support officer , or community support officer is a uniformed non-warranted officer employed by a territorial police force or the British Transport Police in England and Wales. Police community support officers were introduced in September 2002 by the Police Reform Act 2002...
s although that term is not used anywhere in the Police Reform Act 2002, which created the role) in general do not have a rank system: their epaulettes simply bear the words "POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER" and their shoulder number, or, in the Metropolitan Police, a borough identification code and shoulder number.
South Yorkshire Police
South Yorkshire Police
South Yorkshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing South Yorkshire in England.The police force covers an area of approximately 1,554 square kilometres which is made up of the county's three boroughs , along with the City of Sheffield. The resident population is 1.2...
and Kent Police
Kent Police
Kent Police is the territorial police force for Kent in England, including the unitary authority of Medway.-Area and organisation:The force covers an area of with an approximate population of 1,660,588 . The Chief Constable is currently Ian Learmonth, who was appointed in 2010 and is the former...
have PCSO Supervisors. In South Yorkshire they wear a bar above the words "Police Community Support Officer Supervisor" and the shoulder number.
Traffic wardens
Traffic wardenTraffic warden
A traffic warden is a non-warranted officer employed by a statutory authority in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Ireland, to assist in regulating the flow of traffic.- Ireland :...
s are administered by the police and exercise some police powers to control traffic or issue fixed penalty notice
Fixed Penalty Notice
Fixed penalty notices were introduced in Britain in the 1950s to deal with minor parking offences. Originally used by police and traffic wardens, their use has extended to other public officials and authorities, as has the range of offences for which they can be used.In recent years, this has...
s for traffic offences; their epaulettes bear their shoulder number and the words TRAFFIC WARDEN.
They are not to be confused with local authority civil enforcement officer
Civil enforcement officer
A civil enforcement officer is a person employed to enforce parking, traffic and other restrictions and laws in England & Wales. In England, they are employed by county councils, London Borough Councils, metropolitan district councils or Transport for London, and in Wales by county councils - or...
s (formerly parking attendant
Parking attendant
A parking enforcement officer or parking attendant and sometimes parking inspector is a member of a traffic control department or agency who issues tickets for parking violations. Where parking meters are used, they may be known as a meter attendant or a traffic warden...
s) who, under decriminalised parking enforcement
Decriminalised parking enforcement
Decriminalised parking enforcement is the name given in the United Kingdom to the civil enforcement of car parking regulations, carried out by civil enforcement officers, operating on behalf of either a local authority or a private firm. The Road Traffic Act 1991 Decriminalised parking enforcement...
, have powers to issue fixed penalty notices for breaches of parking laws on highways or in local authority car parks and compel the production of a disabled parking permit
Disabled parking permit
A disabled parking permit, also known as a handicapped permit, disabled placard, disabled badge and "Blue Badge" in the European Union, is displayed upon parking a vehicle carrying a person whose mobility would be otherwise significantly impaired by one or more of age, illness, disability or...
(blue badge) for inspection.