Police officer ranks
You can identify what rank an officer is by looking at the symbols on the epaulettes on the shoulders of their uniform.
Click on an image of an epaulette to find out which rank it is for.
Police officers
Police officers are responsible for reducing crime, offering support and reassurance to victims of crime and giving crime prevention advice to the public.
Any officers below the rank of Assistant Chief Constable will be a Detective if the officer is part of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Communications officers
Communications officers are responsible for answering emergency and non-emergency calls.
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)
Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) are responsible for reducing crime and providing a visible and reassuring presence in local communities.
Special Constabulary
Special constables are volunteer police officers who hold the same powers as regular police officers and work alongside them to deliver justice for victims of crime.
Police cadets
Police cadets are responsible for engaging with the public at community events and educating them on crime prevention.
Forensics officers
Forensic officers are responsible for finding, recording and recovering evidence from crime scenes.
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