Essay On Police Rank Structure

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In the police and the armed services there are many ranks which determine the authority of individuals, all of the uniformed public services contain a rank structure.

Police Rank Structure
The police rank structure consists of 9 ranks which can be achieved by passing the exams given to you in the police and maintaining a high standard of work during your rank. Each rank that is progressed gains the individual authority and a bigger responsibility. In the police the ranked system works as a hierarchy usually in the shape of a pyramid with the first, starting ranks at the bottom and the more important ranks towards the top.


A Police Constable (pc) is the first rank in the police however it is one of the most dangerous, demanding and most …show more content…

This is the highest rank below the chief officer level. The chief superintendent is otherwise known as the boss because he controls everyone in the entire division. This means they are in control and responsible for all the policing activity in their area.


An Assistant Chief Constable is responsible for a policy area. They are usually based at a headquarters and usually never go on the front line or get involved with the everyday police work however they are responsible for introducing policies into the police, tactical planning and achieving government targets. This is the third highest rank and they usually have the role of holding portfolios.

The deputy chief constable is 2nd in charge of a full force and has to have an overall responsibility of the forces progress, they contain one per force. They are second in command and so they have to take responsibility for territorial policing.



A chief constable is the highest rank in non-metropolitan uniformed police and holds a great amount of responsibility and a high amount of authority. Chief constables usually stay in high importance areas like London so they can debate with the Prime minister and carry out government

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