Sub-inspector (SI), or sub-inspector of police or police sub-inspector (PSI), is a rank used extensively in South Asia: in the police forces of Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, which are primarily based on the British model. It was formerly used in most British colonial police forces and in certain British police forces as well. The rank usually was in charge of a police substation or assisted an inspector.
The rank of sub-inspector was introduced into the Metropolitan Police in the late 19th century. It did not last long, being effectively replaced by station sergeant in 1890. Officers who already held the rank retained it, and were promoted to inspector as soon as a vacancy arose.
In the Metropolitan Police, a rank wearing one star was formerly officially known as a "station inspector" to distinguish it from the more senior rank of sub-divisional inspector that was abolished in 1949.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police rank of sub-inspector was introduced in 1942 with the insignia of one star, similar to an army second lieutenant. This was changed in 1960 to three stars, similar to an army captain. It was disestablished in the reorganization of 1990, which eliminated the RCMP's subaltern ranks. [1]
The rank of sub-inspector was eliminated in 1970. [2]
The rank of sub inspector was replaced after the Rhodesian Unilateral Declaration of Independence with three grades of; patrol officer, senior patrol officer and section officer with one, two, and three gold coloured bars respectively. [3]
Sub-Inspector of Police | |
---|---|
Service branch | Civil (General Executive), Armed Reserve Police, Technical |
Abbreviation | SI, PSI |
Rank group | Lower Subordinate Officers |
Next higher rank | Inspector of Police |
Next lower rank | Assistant sub-inspector of police |
Equivalent ranks | Sergeant |
A sub-inspector (SI) is generally in command of few police personnel but this is the junior in-charge of Police Station Department (with head constables, the equivalent of corporals, commanding police outposts). It is the lowest rank of officer who, under Indian Police rules and regulations, can file a charge sheet in court, and is usually the first investigating officer. Officers subordinate to them cannot file charge sheets, but can only investigate cases on their behalf. They can be station house officers in some states, like Kerala.
A sub-inspector ranks above an assistant sub-inspector of police (ASI) and below an inspector of police. Most sub-inspectors are directly recruited into the police and have better educational qualifications than lower-ranking police officers.
Specialised units such as the Central Armed Police Forces, State Armed Reserve Police and Armed Battalions use the same rank, but generally these officers do not have any investigative powers. There are also specialist non-investigative officers in the police forces, such as sub-inspector (band), sub-inspector (motor transport) and sub-inspector (telecommunication).
The rank insignia for a sub-inspector is two (five point) stars, and a red and blue striped ribbon at the outer end of the shoulder straps. This is similar to the insignia of a subedar in the Indian Army. An assistant sub-inspector has one (five point) star, and a red and blue striped ribbon at the outer end of the shoulder straps. This is similar to the insignia of a naib subedar in the Indian Army. The rank insignia for principal sub-inspector and additional sub-inspector are the same.
For the post of sub-inspector and assistant sub inspector, a Staff Selection Commission (SSC) recruits eligible candidates on national level in various Central Armed Police Forces like BSF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, CISF, and other Central Police Organisations, such as CBI, RPF. Sub Inspector of Central Armed Police Forces and State police Forces have same scale and pay level. But subedar and Junior Junior Warrant officer of Indian Armed Forces i.e. Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Airforce have other pay level and payment privilege which is better than Central Armed Police Forces or State police forces.
In 2024 Manvi Madhu Kashyap became India's first openly transgender sub-inspector. [4] [5]
In the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the rank of sub-inspector is the senior-most of non-commissioned officers. They are also the lowest ranking police officers to wear their rank insignia on epaulettes on both shoulders. A sub-inspector of the PDRM ranks immediately above a sergeant major (SM) and below a probationary inspector (P/Insp).
In the Nepal Police, the rank of sub inspector is generally the next senior rank from assistant sub inspector (ASI) and is less senior than an inspector. Members holding the rank usually wear an epaulette featuring two silver stars, the same rank badge as a sub inspector in the Armed Police Force.
In the Sri Lanka Police Service, sub-inspector of police (SI) ranks above that of police sergeant major (PSM) and below an inspector (IP). Generally an SI is the officer in charge (OIC) of a small police station, a detachment of police personal or deputy OIC of a larger police station in a metropolitan area.
Most sub-inspectors are directly recruited into the police service as probationary sub-inspectors for one year's training. The basic educational entry requirement is that an applicant has passed the G.C.E Advance Level Examination. Annually, a number of other officers come up through the ranks and are promoted to rank of SI. The rank insignia for a sub-inspector is one star.
In the Romanian Police, subinspector is the lowest commissioned rank, below inspector, and corresponds to the former rank of police second lieutenant (see Romanian Police ranks ).
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who does not hold a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. In contrast, commissioned officers usually enter directly from a military academy, officer training corps (OTC) or reserve officer training corps (ROTC), or officer candidate school (OCS) or officer training school (OTS), after receiving a post-secondary degree.
Sergeant (Sgt) is a rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, serjeant, is used in The Rifles and other units that draw their heritage from the British light infantry. Its origin is the Latin serviens, 'one who serves', through the Old French term serjant.
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services.
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. Sergeants Major serve as the senior enlisted advisor to the commander.
Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term adjudant is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commissioned officer rank similar to a staff sergeant or warrant officer but is not equivalent to the role or appointment of an adjutant.
Police ranks are a system of hierarchical relationships in police organisations. The rank system defines authority and responsibility in a police organisation, and affects the culture within the police force. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms.
Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it.
Subedar is a military rank in the militaries of South Asia roughly equivalent to that of a warrant officer. Historically classed in the British Indian Army as a Viceroy's commissioned officer, the rank was retained in the Indian Army and Pakistan Army after independence. The rank of subedar is classed as a junior commissioned officer rank in India and Pakistan.
Assistant superintendent, or assistant superintendent of police (ASP), is a rank that was used by police forces in the British Empire and is still used in many police forces in the Commonwealth. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank. In the 20th century, it was in many territories opened to non-Europeans as well.
The Kolkata Police, is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement and crime prevention within the metropolitan area of the city of Kolkata, West Bengal. It is one of the two primary police forces in West Bengal, the other being the West Bengal Police.
The Indian Army, the land component of the Indian Armed Forces, follows a certain hierarchy of rank designations and insignia derived from the erstwhile British Indian Army (BIA).
The Indian Navy (IN), the naval component of the Indian Armed Forces follows a certain hierarchy of rank designations and insignia derived from the erstwhile Royal Indian Navy (RIN).
Superintendent (Supt) is a rank in the British police and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries, the full version is superintendent of police (SP). The rank is also used in most British Overseas Territories, in many former British colonies, as well as in Portugal and in several former Portuguese colonies. In some countries, such as Italy, the rank of superintendent is a lower rank.
Sub-officer, or the equivalent in other languages, is a term used in many armed forces used to indicate ranks below commissioned officers. Sub-officer is equivalent to the term warrant officer in the British Commonwealth and the United States. Historically armed forces using the term sub-officer have used it to refer to more senior non-commissioned ranks, typically from sergeant upwards, but the term often covers all ranks that other forces designate non-commissioned. In navies the term is comparable to petty officer.
Gazetted officers in India include all Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, who are classified as Group A officers, as well as State Police Service officers at the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and above. In most police forces, ranks below Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) are considered subordinate ranks, while DSP and above are supervisory ranks. These officers are organized in a structured hierarchical order.
In the police forces of India and Nepal, an Assistant of sub-inspector (ASI) is a non-gazetted police officer ranking above a police head constable and below a Sub-inspector. The rank insignia for an ASI is one star, with a red and blue striped ribbon at the outer edge of the shoulder straps. He/she can be an Investigating officer. A.S.I. is often the officer in charge of Police Outposts or "phari" and Investigation Centres. Some police stations carry incharge of GD duty. They make reports of incidents for senior officers.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police is the police force of Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. JKP was established in 1873 and has primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief inspector is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police (CIP).
Station sergeant is a police rank senior to sergeant and junior to inspector in some British and Commonwealth police forces. The rank insignia is usually a sergeant's three chevrons surmounted by a crown, or sometimes four chevrons. The Metropolitan Police, which was the first force to introduce the rank, originally used four chevrons, but later changed to a crown over three chevrons, which was identical to the insignia worn by a staff sergeant in the British Army. A police officer holding the rank is usually the senior sergeant in a police station, or in some cases the commander of a smaller sub-divisional police establishment.