Australian police ranks

Last updated

Australian police ranks and rank insignia are loosely based on the ranks of the United Kingdom police forces and differ between state and territory forces. Ranks listed here descend in seniority from left to right.

Contents

Current ranks

CommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstableStudent
Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales
Police Force
[1]
Nsw-police-force-commissioner.png Nsw-police-force-deputy-commissioner.png Nsw-police-force-senior-assistant-commissioner.png Nsw-police-force-assistant-commissioner.png Nsw-police-force-chief-superintendent.png Nsw-police-force-superintendent.png Nsw-police-force-chief-inspector.png Nsw-police-force-inspector.png Nsw-police-force-incremental-senior-sergeant.png Nsw-police-force-senior-sergeant.png Nsw-police-force-sergeant.png Nsw-police-force-leading-senior-constable.png Nsw-police-force-incremental-senior-constable.png Nsw-police-force-senior-constable.png Nsw-police-constable.png Nsw-police-force-probationa.png Student nswpf.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Senior
assistant
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Chief
superintendent
Superintendent Chief
inspector
Inspector Senior
sergeant
Incremental
sergeant
Sergeant Leading
senior
constable
Incremental
senior
constable
Senior
constable
Constable Probationary constablePolicing student
CommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstableStudent
Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria Police [2]
2010–present
Wa-police-commissioner.png Vic-police-deputy-commissioner.png Wa-police-assistant-commissioner.png Vic-police-commander.png Vic-police-chief-superintendent.png Vic-police-superintendent.png Vic-police-chief-inspector.png Vic-police-inspector.png Vic-police-senior-sergeant.png Vic-police-sergeant.png Vic-police-leading-senior-constable.png Vic-police-senior-constable.png Vic-police-first-constable.png Vic-police-constable.png Vic-police-constable.png
Chief
commissioner
Deputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Commander Chief
superintendent
[note 1]
Superintendent Chief
inspector [note 2]
Inspector Senior
sergeant
Sergeant Leading
senior
constable
Senior
constable
First
constable [3]
Constable Probationary constable
CommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstableStudent
Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland Police Service [4]
2019–present
QPSCom.jpg QPSDC.jpg QPSAC.jpg QPSCSup.jpg QPSSup.jpg Qld Police epaulette ChInsp-2024.jpg QPSInsp.jpg QPSSSgt(rec).jpg QPSSSgt.jpg QPSSgt(rec).jpg QPSSgt.jpg Qld Police epaulette LSCon-2024.jpg QPSSCon(rec).jpg QPSSCon.jpg QPSCon.jpg
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Chief
superintendent
Superintendent Chief inspector (title, not rank) Inspector Senior sergeant – with recognition of service [note 3] Senior
Sergeant
Sergeant – with recognition of service [note 3] Sergeant Leading senior constable (title, not rank)Senior constable – with recognition of service [note 3] Senior
constable
Constable
CommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstableStudent
Flag of South Australia.svg South Australia Police [5] Sa-police-commissioner.png Sa-police-deputy-commissioner.png Sa-police-assistant-commissioner.png Sa-police-commander.png Sa-police-chief-superintendent.png Sa-police-superintendent.png Sa-police-chief-inspector.png Sa-police-inspector.png Sa-police-senior-sergeant-first-class.png Sa-police-senior-sergeant1.png Sa-police-sergeant.png Sa-police-brevet-sergeant.png Sa-police-senior-constable.png Sa-police-first-class-constable.png Sa-police-constable.png Sa-police-probationary-constable.png Sa-police-probationary-constable.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
CommanderChief
superintendent
Superintendent Chief
inspector
Inspector Senior
sergeant
first class
Senior
sergeant
Sergeant Brevet
sergeant
Senior
constable
first class
Senior
constable
Constable
first class
Constable Probationary
constable
CommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstableStudent
Flag of Western Australia.svg Western Australia Police [6]
2009–present
Wa-police-commissioner.png Wa-police-deputy-commissioner.png Wa-police-assistant-commissioner.png Wa-police-commander.png Wa-police-superintendent.png Wa-police-inspector.png Wa-police-senior-sergeant.png Wa-police-sergeant.png Wa-police-senior-constable.png Wa-police-first-class-constable.png Wa-police-constable.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Commander Superintendent Inspector Senior
sergeant
Sergeant Senior
constable
Constable
first class
Constable
CommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstableStudent
Flag of Tasmania.svg Tasmania Police [7] Commissioner TASPOL.png Deputy Commissioner TASPOL.png Assistant Commissioner TASPOL.png Commander TASPOL.png Inspector TASPOL.png Senior Sergeant TASPOL.png Sergeant TASPOL.png Senior Constable (Q) TASPOL.png Senior Constable TASPOL.png Constable First Class TASPOL.png Constable TASPOL.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Commander Inspector Senior
sergeant
Sergeant Senior
constable
qualified
Senior
constable
First
class
constable
Constable
CommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstableStudent
Flag of the Northern Territory.svg Northern Territory Police [8] [9]
2019–present
NT-police-commissioner 2019.png Sa-police-commissioner.png Sa-police-assistant-commissioner.png Sa-police-commander.png Sa-police-superintendent.png AFPSGT.png NT-police-sergeant.png AFPSC.png AFPFC.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Commander Superintendent Senior
sergeant
Sergeant Senior
constable
Constable
first class
CommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstableRecruit
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australian Federal Police
(ACT Policing)
[10] [11]
AFPCOMM.png AFPDCOMM.png AFPACOMM.png AFPCOMMANDER.png AFPSPR.png AFPINSP.png AFPSGT.png AFPLSC.png AFPSC.png AFPFC.png AFPC.png AFPRC.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner [note 4]
Assistant
commissioner
Commander Superintendent Inspector Sergeant Leading
senior
constable
Senior
constable
Constable
first class
Constable Police
recruit
CommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSupervisorOfficerAssistant officer
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australian Border Force CommissionerABF.jpg Depu Commissioner.jpg Assis Commissioner.jpg CommanderBFO.jpg Chief Superintendent ABF.jpg Superint.jpg InspectorBFO.jpg SupervisorBFO.jpg SeniorBFO.jpg LeadingBFO.jpg Border Force Officer.jpg Assis BFO 2.jpg Assis BFO 1.jpg
Commissioner of the ABFDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
CommanderBorder Force chief superintendentBorder Force superintendentBorder Force inspectorBorder Force supervisorSenior Border Force officerLeading Border Force officerBorder Force officerAssistant Border Force officer (level 2)Assistant Border Force officer (level 1)

Former ranks

Federal

NameCommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstable
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Commonwealth Police [12]
1917–1979
COMPOL
No equivalent AFPACOMM.png No equivalent AFPSPR.png AFPINSP.png No equivalent AFPSGT.png No equivalent AFPC.png AFPRC.png
Assistant
commissioner
Chief superintendent Senior superintendent Superintendent Chief inspector Senior inspector Inspector Senior sergeant Sergeant Senior
constable
Constable
first class
Constable Police
recruit
Flag of Australia (converted).svg ACT Policing [12]
1917–1979
ACTPol
No equivalent AFPACOMM.png No equivalent AFPSPR.png AFPINSP.png AFPSSGT.png AFPSGT.png No equivalent AFPC.png AFPRC.png
Deputy commissioner Superintendent Senior inspector Inspector first-class Inspector second-class Sergeant first-class Sergeant second-class Sergeant third-class Senior
constable
Constable
first class
Constable Police
recruit
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Federal Police
(ACT Policing)
[12] [13]

1979–1990

AFP (ACTPol)
AFPCOMM.png AFPDCOMM.png AFPACOMM.png No equivalent AFPSPR.png AFPINSP.png AFPSSGT.png AFPSGT.png No equivalent AFPC.png AFPRC.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner [note 5]
Chief superintendent Superintendent Chief inspector Inspector Station sergeant [note 6] Senior sergeant Sergeant Constable
first class
Constable Police
recruit
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Federal Police
(ACT Policing)
[14] [15]
1990–2019
AFP (ACTPol)
AFPCOMM.png AFPDCOMM.png AFPACOMM.png AFPCOMMANDER.png No equivalent AFPSPR.png No equivalent AFPSSGT.png No equivalent AFPSGT.png AFPLSC.png AFPSC.png AFPFC.png AFPC.png AFPRC.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner [note 7]
Commander Superintendent Station sergeant [note 8] Sergeant Leading
senior
constable
Senior
constable
Constable
first class
Constable Police
recruit

Victoria

NameCommissionerCommanderSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstable
Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria Police [13]
circa 1984
Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png
Chief
commissioner
Deputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Commander Chief superintendent Superintendent Chief inspector Inspector Senior sergeant Sergeant Senior
constable
Constable
Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria Police
2003–2010
Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png
Chief
commissioner
Deputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Commander Chief superintendent Superintendent Chief inspector Inspector Senior sergeant Sergeant Senior
constable
ReservistConstable

Queensland

NameCommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstable
Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland Police Service [16]
1975–1978
Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png No equivalent Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png No equivalent Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Chief superintendent Superintendent Inspector Senior sergeantSergeant first class Sergeant second class Senior
constable
Constable
first class
Constable
Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland Police Service [13] [17]
1978–1991
Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Superintendent first class Superintendent second class Superintendent third class Inspector first class Inspector second class Inspector third classSenior sergeantSergeant first class Sergeant second class Sergeant third classSenior
constable
Constable
first class
Constable
Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland Police Service [13] [18]
1991–1997
Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png No equivalent Blank.png Blank.png No equivalent Blank.png No equivalent Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Chief superintendent Superintendent Inspector Senior sergeant Sergeant Senior
constable
Constable
(18 months of service)
Constable
Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland Police Service [13] [19]
1997–2001
Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png No equivalent Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png No equivalent Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Chief superintendent Superintendent Inspector Senior sergeantSergeant first class Sergeant second class Senior
constable
Constable
Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland Police Service [20] [21]
2002–2019
Qld-police-commissioner.png Qld-police-deputy-commissioner.png Qld-police-assistant-commissioner.png Qld-police-chief-superintendent.png Qld-police-superintendent.png No equivalent Qld-police-inspector.png Qld-police-senior-sergeant.png No equivalent Qld-police-sergeant.png No equivalent Qld-police-senior-constable.png Qld-police-constable-5-years.png Qld-police-constable.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Chief
superintendent
Superintendent Inspector Senior
sergeant
Sergeant Senior
constable
Constable
(5 years)
Constable

Northern Territory

NameCommissionerSuperintendentInspectorSergeantConstable
Flag of the Northern Territory.svg Northern Territory Police [13]
1984
Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png No equivalent Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png Blank.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Superintendent Chief inspector Inspector Sergeant first class Sergeant second class Sergeant third class Senior
constable
Constable
first class
ConstableRecruit
constable
Flag of the Northern Territory.svg Northern Territory Police [22]
1984–2012
NT-police-commissioner-khaki.png NT-police-deputy-commissioner-khaki.png NT-police-assistant-commissioner-khaki.png NT-police-commander-khaki.png NT-police-superintendent-khaki.png No equivalent NT-police-senior-sergeant-khaki.png No equivalent NT-police-sergeant-khaki.png NT-police-senior-constable-khaki.png NT-police-constable-first-class-khaki.png No equivalent NT-police-recruit-constable-khaki.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Commander Superintendent Senior
sergeant
Sergeant Senior
constable
Constable
first class
Recruit
constable
Flag of the Northern Territory.svg Northern Territory Police [8]
2012–2019
Sa-police-commissioner.png Sa-police-deputy-commissioner.png Sa-police-assistant-commissioner.png Sa-police-commander.png Sa-police-superintendent.png No equivalent AFPSSGT.png No equivalent Wa-police-sergeant.png Wa-police-senior-constable.png Wa-police-first-class-constable.png No equivalent Wa-police-constable.png
CommissionerDeputy
commissioner
Assistant
commissioner
Commander Superintendent Senior
sergeant
Sergeant Senior
constable
Constable
first class
Recruit
constable

Western Australia

1979-2006
NameOfficer RanksNon-Commissioned Officer RanksOther Ranks
Western Australia Police Force [23] "crossed batons in a laurel wreath surmounted by a crown, silvered metal. Gorget made of offset silver bullion thread in an oak-leaf pattern with a silver bullion thread button on a royal blue velvet background""crossed batons in a laurel wreath surmounted by a star, silvered metal. Gorget is to be identical with the one worn by the Commissioner""crossed batons in a laurel wreath, silvered metal. Gorget is to be identical with the one worn by the Commissioner""3 small stars surmounted by a crown, silvered metal. Gorget is to be identical with the one worn by the Commissioner""2 stars surmounted by a crown, silvered metal. Gorget is to be identical with the one worn by the Commissioner""one star surmounted by a crown, silvered metal. Gorget made of silvered pressed metal in an oak-leaf pattern with a silvered metal button on a royal blue velvet background""one crown, silvered metal. Gorget made of chrome bar and button on a black velvet background""3 stars, silvered metal. Gorget is to be identical with the one worn by a Chief Inspector""3 broad chevrons with a crown""3 broad chevrons""2 broad chevrons separated by a narrow chevron""2 narrow chevrons""one narrow chevron"no insignia
CommissionerDeputy CommissionerAssistant CommissionerCommanderChief SuperintendentSuperintendentChief InspectorInspectorSenior SergeantSergeant First ClassSergeantSenior ConstableConstable First ClassConstable

Notes

  1. The ranks of Chief Inspector and Chief Superintendent are no longer used or promotable.
  2. The ranks of Chief Inspector and Chief Superintendent are no longer used or promotable.
  3. 1 2 3 The 'Recognition of service' tab for each rank is not a separate rank with the Queensland Police Service, rather simply a means of highlighting the wearer's experience at that level
  4. Chief of ACT Policing
  5. Chief of ACT Policing
  6. Sergeant in specific roles as determined by the Commissioner
  7. Chief of ACT Policing
  8. Sergeant in specific roles as determined by the Commissioner

See also

References

  1. "Rank Insignia – NSW Police Force". New South Wales Police Force. Archived from the original on 4 December 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  2. "Victoria Police – Insignia of Police Ranks". VicNews - The Victorian Scanning News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  3. "First Constable (63/11)". Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  4. "QPS Ranks". www.police.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  5. "South Australia Police - Rank Insignia". The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia Around the World. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  6. "Western Australia Police - Rank Insignia". Western Australia Police. Archived from the original on 6 January 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  7. "Tasmania Police – Rank Insignia and Title". Tasmania Police . Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  8. 1 2 "New NT Police Uniform – Alice Springs and Southern Region Command". NT Police, Fire, and Emergency Services. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  9. "Graduating officer Liam Devine with NT Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw". ABC . 12 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  10. "AFP National Guidelines on Uniform and Standards of Dress". CiteSeerX   10.1.1.738.8340 .
  11. "Inspector title returns to ACT Policing". 29 May 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 "Regulations Under the Australian Federal Police Act 1979". 10 October 1979. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Swanton, Bruce; Hannigan, Garry (1985). Police Source Book 2 (PDF). Australian Institute of Criminology. p. 181. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  14. "AFP National Guidelines on Uniform and Standards of Dress". CiteSeerX   10.1.1.738.8340 .
  15. "Inspector title returns to ACT Policing". 29 May 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  16. "Queensland Police 1975–1978" . Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  17. "Queensland Police 1978–1991" . Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  18. "Queensland Police 1991–1997" . Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  19. "Queensland Police 1997–2001" . Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  20. "Queensland Police 2002" . Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  21. Queensland Police Service (16 August 2019). "Rank insignia". police.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  22. "Insignia, Patches and Badges – NT Police Museum". sites.google.com. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  23. https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_4073.pdf/$FILE/Police%20Force%20Regulations%201979%20-%20%5B03-e0-05%5D.pdf?OpenElement