Chief inspector

Not to be confused with the head of a Britishinspectorate,titledHis Majesty's chief inspector.

Chief inspector(Ch Insp) is arankused inpoliceforces which follow theBritishmodel. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to aschief inspector of police(CIP).

Usage by country

Australia

The rank of chief inspector is used in theNew South Wales PoliceandSouth Australia Police.Victoria Policedeclassified the rank in the mid-1990s. In both forces, it is senior to the rank ofinspectorand junior to the rank ofsuperintendent.The insignia consists of a crown, the same insignia as that of aMajorin the army.

Canada

TheSûreté du Québecand the City of Montreal Police Service (Service de police de la Ville de Montréalor SPVM) utilize the rank of chief inspector. In both forces, the insignia consists of four gold stripes, similar to the former insignia of a colonel in the Canadian Army and Air Force. Until 1978, the SPVM used British-pattern insignia for the rank consisting of a crown over two pips, also utilizing the rank of assistant chief inspector (a crown over one pip). Both ranks were subsequently abolished. The rank of chief inspector was restored in the SPVM in 1995 and the current insignia adopted in 1997.

Hong Kong

In theHong Kong Police Force,a chief inspector is normally the second-in-command of a headquarters unit or adivision.

Japan

In theJapanese National Police Agency,a chief inspector ( cảnh bộ keibu) serves as the squad commander in a police station and leader of a riot company. Prior to a 2013 restructuring that changed the English translation slightly, this rank was that of inspector.

Papua New Guinea

In theRoyal Papua New Guinea Constabulary,a chief inspector is normally a police station commander or the second-in-command of the Police Training College. It is a rank betweensenior inspectorandsuperintendent.

Philippines

In thePhilippines,chief inspector is a rank in theBureau of Jail Management and Penologyand theBureau of Fire Protection.It is above senior inspector and below superintendent and is regarded as the equivalent ofmajorin thePhilippine Army.

Romania

In theRomanian Police,inspector principalis a rank senior toinspectorand junior toSubcomisarand corresponds to the former rank ofpolice captain.

Singapore

The rank has been abolished by theSingapore Police Force,except for theGurkha Contingent.

Sri Lanka

In theSri Lanka Police Service,chief inspector of Police (CIP) is senior toinspectorand junior toassistant superintendent of police.In large cities, a chief inspector is the officer in charge (OIC) of a largepolice station.The rank insignia for a chief inspector is three stars.

United Kingdom

Main article:Police ranks of the United Kingdom

UK police chief inspector epaulette

In the British police, a chief inspector is senior to an inspector and junior to asuperintendent.

Today, the function of chief inspectors varies from force to force. They may assistBasic Command Unit(BCU) commanders, command smaller units, or fill various staff posts. In some forces such asHampshire ConstabularyandSussex Police,the chief inspector is the senior officer in command of a district (usually consisting of one or more local authority areas). In this respect they have replaced superintendents as the head police officer of larger towns.

Detective chief inspector(DCI) is usually the minimum rank held by a senior investigating officer (SIO), who heads major investigations (e.g.murder), and a pool of these officers usually works out of force headquarters or major police stations. The senior Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer in each BCU usually also holds this rank.

The rank badge of a chief inspector is threeBath stars( "pips" ) worn on theepaulettes.This is the same badge as acaptainin theBritish Army.Until 1953, chief inspectors in the Metropolitan Police wore a crown on their epaulettes instead.

Chief inspector was one of the ranks proposed for abolition in the1994 Sheehy Report,but in the end it was retained.

A number of city and burgh police forces inScotlandused the rank oflieutenantuntil 1948, when it was replaced by chief inspector.

Metropolitan Police

The rank was introduced into theMetropolitan Policein 1868 and was first used byAdolphus Williamson,the first head of the Detective Branch (later theCriminal Investigation Department). When Williamson was promoted to superintendent shortly afterwards, three of hisinspectorswere promoted to chief inspector and the rank was firmly established. In 1869 it was also introduced as a uniformed rank, with the senior assistant to thedivisionalsuperintendent being given the rank. The rank subsequently spread to other police forces.

From 1933, every Metropolitan Police division had two chief inspectors: chief inspector (administration) and chief inspector (crime) (the latter also being a uniformed administrative officer and not replacing thedivisional detective inspector(DDI)). From 1949,sub-divisional inspectorsand DDIs were regraded as chief inspectors and current chief inspectors were regraded as superintendents. From 1953, chief inspectors commanding sub-divisions and detective chief inspectors commanding divisional CIDs were regraded as superintendents grade I, other chief inspectors were regraded as superintendents grade II, and a redefined rank of chief inspector was created for senior inspectors. Since 1974, the Metropolitan Police has only had one rank of superintendent, in common with the rest of the country.

From January 1954, there was one superintendent grade I and one chief inspector in each sub-division, and one chief superintendent, one superintendent grade II and one detective superintendent grade I in each division.A detective chief inspector was added in each division later in 1954.

It was announced in October 2016 that the rank (along with the rank of commander) would be phased out of the Metropolitan Police Service by October 2018;however, this plan was later cancelled.

Salary

A chief inspector's starting salary is £58,332 or £60,654 if serving in London. After three years, it increases to £60,732 or £63,058 if serving in London.

Famous fictional characters

• DCIJohn Lutherof the TV seriesLuther
• DCIGeorge Gentlyof the TV seriesInspector George Gently
• DCI Tom Mathias of the TV seriesHinterland - Y Gwyll
• DCIClaud Eustace Teal,in the novels and adaptations ofLeslie Charteris'Saintseries
• DCIReginald Wexford,in the eponymous series of novels byRuth Rendell.
• Chief InspectorDerek Conwayof the TV seriesThe Bill
• Chief InspectorEric Finch,head of New Scotland Yard and Minister of Investigations in theV for Vendettagraphic novel
• DCIEndeavour Morseof theColin Dexternovels and theInspector Morsetelevision series
• DCIsTom Barnabyand John Barnaby of theCaroline Grahamnovels and theMidsomer Murderstelevision series
• DCIGene Huntof the television seriesLife on Mars(set in 1973) andAshes to Ashes(set between 1981 and 1983)
• DCISam TylerofLife on Mars(although when he awakes in 1973 he is a DI, in 2006 he holds the rank of DCI)
• DCI (later Detective Superintendent) Jane Tennison of thePrime Suspecttelevision series
• DCIAdam DalglieshofCover Her FacebyP.D. James(later Superintendent, Chief Superintendent, Commander)
• DCI (originally Inspector)James Jappof theAgatha ChristieHercule Poirotnovels and the television seriesAgatha Christie's Poirot
• DCI Sharpe of theAgatha ChristieHercule Poirotpart of the anime television seriesAgatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple
• DCI (both formerly and later Superintendent)Jack Meadowsof the TV seriesThe Bill
• DCIFrank Burnsideof the TV seriesThe Bill(in which he was a detective inspector) and his own series,Burnside
• DCI Frank Haskins of the TV seriesThe Sweeney
• DCI (previously Detective Inspector, later Superintendent) Barney Crozier of the TV seriesBergerac
• DCIAlan Banksof the Peter Robinson series of novels and the television seriesDCI Banks
• DCIJim Taggartof the TV seriesTaggart
• DCIVera Stanhopeof the TV SeriesVera
• DCIThomas Nightingaleof the BookRivers of London
• DCIGillian Murrayof the TV SeriesScott & Bailey
• DCI Tony Gates of the TV SeriesLine of Duty
• DCI Roseanne Huntley of the TV SeriesLine of Duty
• DCI Joanne Davidson of the TV seriesLine of Duty
• DCIRichard Jury(later Superintendent) in severalMartha Grimesnovels
• DCISasha Millerof the TV SeriesNew Tricks
• DCILestradeof the TV series "Sherlock (TV series)"
• DCI Cassandra 'Cassie' Stuart of the TV seriesUnforgotten
• DCICharles Parkerof theLord Peter Wimseynovels byDorothy L. Sayers
• DCI Karin Parke of the Black Mirror episode "Hated in the Nation"
• DCI Karl Roebuck of the TV seriesThe Tunnel
• Chief Inspector Takeshi Kido ofThe Man in the High Castle (TV series)
• DCI Amy Silva of the TV SeriesVigil (TV series)