The Protection Command is one of the commands within the Specialist Operations directorate of London 's Metropolitan Police Service . The command specialises in protective security and has two branches: Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP), providing protection to the royal family and close protection to government officials , and Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP), providing uniformed security to government buildings, officials and diplomats. In contrast with the vast majority of British police officers, many members of the Protection Command routinely carry firearms in the course of their duties and all are authorised firearms officers .
16-598: In April 2015, the branches of Protection Command and elements of Security Command were merged into two distinct branches under the control of Protection Command: Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP; a merger of Royalty Protection and Specialist Protection) and Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP; a merger of the Diplomatic Protection Group and the Palace of Westminster Division of Security Command). The Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP)
32-558: A Chief Constable and later a Deputy Assistant Commissioner . Each division could cover a wide rural area, a substantial town, or a portion of a city, depending on the population ( London , for instance, was divided at one point into 67 Metropolitan Police divisions and sub-divisions and a further four City of London Police divisions ). In 1949, the Metropolitan Police regraded its divisional commanders as Chief Superintendents and most other forces followed suit. With
48-457: A Superintendent . The Singapore Police Force divides the city-state into seven divisions of varying physical sizes and population. These boundaries tend to be demarcated in terms of cases handled by observing criminal trends over time, instead of being based on area or population sizes alone. A few police departments in Canada use divisions to represent stations or patrol areas, but some are
64-450: A Superintendent . Divisions were usually divided into Sub-Divisions, commanded by Inspectors (or, in the Metropolitan Police, Sub-Divisional Inspectors , a higher rank). Some rural forces did not acquire this further organisational level until well into the 20th century, however. Sub-divisional commanders were later regraded as Chief Inspectors in most forces. In London, divisions were later grouped together as districts, each commanded by
80-451: A deputy superintendent of police may serve as the investigative officer (IO) in instances involving terrorism , dowry deaths , atrocities against scheduled caste , and corruption . The IPS rank of assistant superintendent of police (ASP) is equivalent to the rank of deputy superintendent of police. In the commissionerate system, the equivalent post is assistant commissioner of police (ACP). The rank above deputy superintendent of police
96-556: A mix of operational and administrative units with the force. A few police agencies using divisions include: Deputy Superintendent Deputy superintendent of police ( DSP ) is a rank used by several police forces in the Commonwealth and formerly in the British Empire . The rank is usually above assistant superintendent and below superintendent . The rank of deputy superintendent of police (DSP or DySP)
112-571: Is additional superintendent of police (Addl. SP) and the rank below is inspector . The rank of deputy superintendent of police is the highest rank attainable by an officer in the National Police Cadet Corps . The rank of acting deputy superintendent of police is vested onto NPCC headquarters appointment holders who have not actually attained the rank of deputy superintendent of police. The rank insignia of deputy superintendent of police and acting deputy superintendent of police
128-477: The Indian Police Service (IPS) after several years of service which varies from 8 to 15 years depending on the state. Deputy superintendents of police are typically assigned the charge of a police sub-division under a police district in the post of sub-divisional police officer (SDPO). In the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh , the post is known as circle officer (CO). Under Indian law,
144-419: The 1990s divisions of many forces were restructured and retitled Basic Command Units (BCUs), although as of 2009 some forces continue to refer to them as divisions. The term was and is used in many other countries of the British Empire and Commonwealth . The term has existed since the creation of police forces in the early 19th century. Most police forces were divided into divisions, usually commanded by
160-703: The City Police District, headed by a Commissioner, and the Rural District Police, headed by a Superintendent. In the Republic of Ireland , the Garda Síochána divides its operational area into 26 divisions, which in turn report to one of four regions. Most, but not all of these divisions, are aligned to county borders. Each division is commanded by a Chief Superintendent . Divisions are further divided into districts, commanded by
176-510: The equivalent to a division is a Police District. Policing in India is on a state basis, and every state is divided into a number of districts. Each district is headed by a Superintendent of Police. The district is subdivided into Sub Divisions, each commanded by a Deputy Superintendent of Police. Sub Divisions are further divided into Police Circles. In the case of a district including large cities, two separate police districts are created, known as
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#1732780985753192-427: The reforms of the 1990s, sub-divisions and divisions acquired a variety of new names – for instance, in 1999 the Metropolitan Police replaced its divisions with "Borough Policing", whose boundaries were based on the 1965 London boroughs . 1829 Later additions by formation date The Hong Kong Police Force divides its territory into 23 divisions or districts, each reporting to one of the six regions. In India ,
208-588: Was created in 1876 as the policy of Indianisation was introduced. It was originally a rank only held by Indians and was equivalent to assistant superintendent (a rank then only held by Europeans). Deputy superintendents of police are officers who belong to the State Police Services (SPS) of the respective Indian states. Officers are either directly recruited through the respective Public Service Commission examinations or promoted from lower ranks. Deputy superintendents of police can be promoted to
224-586: Was formed following a merger of the Diplomatic Protection Group (SO6) with the Palace of Westminster Division (SO17) in April 2015. PaDP provide armed and unarmed protection of embassies, missions and the Parliamentary Estate. They also provide residential protection for high-profile government ministers and are responsible for access control and security at Downing Street and New Scotland Yard. PaDP
240-730: Was formed following a merger of the Royalty Protection Command (SO14) with the Specialist Protection Command (SO1) in April 2015. The department has three service areas: Prior to 1978, when the Royalty Protection Branch was formed as a separate non-divisional specialist unit, royalty protection officers were attached for administrative purposes to "A" Division , although they fell within "A" Department at New Scotland Yard. Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP)
256-463: Was the command in which Police Constable Keith Palmer , who was killed in an attack at Westminster in 2017 , worked, as did convicted kidnapper, murderer and rapist Wayne Couzens who used his status as a Police Officer to deceive his victim Sarah Everard by falsely arresting her. Police division A division was the usual term for the largest territorial subdivision of most British police forces. In major reforms of police organisation in
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