UK police ranks
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Most of the police forces of the United Kingdom use a standard set of ranks, listed here in ascending seniority. Badges of rank are usually worn on the epaulettes, although sergeants wear their stripes on their upper sleeves in formal uniform. The police forces of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar use virtually identical ranks.
- Police Constable (PC) (warrant number, sometimes with divisional letters)
- Sergeant (Sgt or PS) (three point down chevrons over warrant number, sometimes with divisional letters)
- Inspector (Insp) (two stars of the Order of the Bath, informally known as pips)
- Chief Inspector (Ch Insp) (three pips)
- Superintendent (Supt) (crown)
- Chief Superintendent (Ch Supt) (crown over one pip)
- Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) (crossed tipstaves in a laurel wreath)
- Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) (one pip over ACC badge)
- Chief Constable (crown over ACC badge)
All territorial forces in the United Kingdom apart from the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police use all of these ranks. Smaller specialist forces and forces outside the United Kingdom have fewer ranks.
The Chief Constable is the head of each police force. Ranks above Chief Superintendent are usually non-operational management roles, and are often referred to as "Chief Officer" ranks.
Epaulettes are normally black with white or silver insignia, although for High Visibility Uniform, they are often yellow with black insignia.
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Detectives
Officers holding ranks up to and including Chief Superintendent who are members of the Criminal Investigation Department or Special Branch have the prefix Detective before their rank.
Variations
The Metropolitan Police has a different ranking system above Chief Superintendent:
- Commander (Cmdr)
- Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC)
- Assistant Commissioner (AC)
- Deputy Commissioner (DC)
- Commissioner
The City of London Police has a different ranking system above Chief Superintendent:
- Commander (Cmdr)
- Assistant Commissioner (AC)
- Commissioner
The Isle of Man Constabulary has a slight variant above Superintendent:
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was formerly headed by an Inspector-General.
Special Constables
In the special constabulary, there are various grades which assist in the tasking and management of the constabulary. The persons holding these grades have no additional power within law and are "outranked" by any regular officer.
The Thames Valley Special Constabulary uses the following grades(in increasing order of seniority) [1]:
- Special Constable (SC logo and warrant number)
- Section Officer (SC logo, one bar and warrant number)
- Area Officer (SC logo, two bars)
- Chief Area Officer (SC logo, three bars)
- Chief Officer (SC logo, four bars)
The Metropolitan Special Constabulary use the following to differentiate between different grades within the constabulary:
- Special Constable (SC logo, borough code, borough number,)
- Special Sergeant (SC logo, borough code, borough number, one bar)
- Special Inspector (SC logo, two bars)
- Assitant Chief Officer (SC logo, three bars)
- Chief Officer (SC logo, four bars)
Community Support Officers
Police Community Support Officers do not have a rank system: their epaulettes simply bear the words POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER and their warrant number.
Traffic Wardens
Traffic Wardens (also known as Parking Attendants if council-run) are sometimes administered by the police and sometimes the local council. If run by the police, their epaulettes bear their warrant number and the words TRAFFIC WARDEN.