Police ranks of the United Kingdom
Police ranks of the United Kingdom
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.
Powers
In law, every attested police officer is a constable whatever their actual rank, in the sense that officers of any rank have the same powers of arrest. The basic police powers of arrest and search of an ordinary constable are identical to those of a superintendent or chief constable; however certain higher ranks are given administrative powers to authorise certain police actions. In England and Wales, these include the powers to:
Powers
• authorise the continued detention of up to 24 hours of a person arrested for an offence and brought to a police station (granted to sergeants and above at designated police stations), • authorise section 18 (1) PACE searches of premises (granted to inspectors and above), • extend the length of prisoner detention to 36 hours (granted to superintendents and above), • extend the length of bail from a police station to three months (granted to inspectors) or up to six months (granted to superintendents and above)
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