| DCP Full Form in Police is Deputy commissioner. A deputy commissioner is a senior police administrative official in India. He is usually posted in the police commissionerates of India. In larger cities, commissionerate policing systems are there. Get insights on everything related to deputy commissioners from posting, seniority to ranks. |
The rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) is an Indian singularity – a police commissionerate, which covers a major city in the country, has, uniquely, DCPs. While the police of a city are managed by a Commissioner of Police, usually a senior official from Indian Police Service, the position of DCP is the same as that of the Senior Superintendent of Police in the state police. In the rank order, DCP is placed above Addl Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl.DCP) and below Additional Commissioner of Police (Addl.CP).
What are Commissionerates?
- Many adjoining districts make a Police Commissionerate.
- True Commissionerates are those located in New Delhi, Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Kolkata because they hold the authority of both the District Magistrate and the Executive Magistrate.
- The police commissionerates have different organizational frameworks depending on the state. For example, the Police Commissioners of Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata answer directly to the state government rather than the Director General of Police (DGP).
- The Commissioner of Police in Kerala also lacks magisterial authority.
- The oldest police commissionerate in India is the Hyderabad City Police commissionerate, which was founded by the Nizams in the former Hyderabad State in 1847 AD.
- In 1856, the British Indian administration first introduced the CP system to Kolkata and Chennai, followed by Mumbai in 1864.
DCP Rank and Hierarchy
You must note that each state follows a different system, depending upon how large the city is and other requirements. In Delhi, the following type of Police Commissionerate system is followed. Other cities may not have one or more of these posts, depending upon factors mentioned above.
Rank | Details |
Commissioner of Police (CP) | He is equivalent to DGP. He enjoys the highest position in the hierarchy. |
Special Commissioner of Police (Spl.CP) | He is equivalent to Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). He is below Commissioner of Police (CP) in the hierarchy. |
Joint Commissioner of Police (Jt. CP) | He is equivalent to Inspector General of Police (IGP). He is below Special Commissioner of Police (Spl.CP) in the hierarchy. |
Additional Commissioner of Police (Addl.CP) | He enjoys the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) equivalent position. He is below Joint Commissioner of Police (Jt. CP) in the hierarchy. |
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) | He is Senior Superintendent of Police or SP equivalent. He is below Additional Commissioner of Police (Addl.CP) in the hierarchy. |
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl.DCP) | He is Addl. SP equivalent. He is below Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in the hierarchy. |
Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) | DSP or ASP equivalent. He is below Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl.DCP) in the hierarchy. |
Police inspector, sub-inspector, assistant sub-inspector, head constable, and constable are among the ranks of subordinate police officers in the Police Commissionerate system, which is equivalent to a district police force led by a Senior SP/SP.
Organizational Structure
The structure is presented and bulleted below:
- A Commissioner of Police (CP) is the head of the police commissionerate.
- Depending on the approval granted by the relevant state government (or the Government of India in the case of Delhi), an IPS officer of the rank of SP and above may hold the position of Commissioner of Police.
- The commissioner of police is supported by special, joint, additional, deputy, and assistant commissioners of police, who are approved by the respective state government.
- The organization is made up of departments such as security, special branch, traffic police, armed reserve police, administration, offenses, law and order, and more.
- Police districts, divisions, and sub divisions are responsible for upholding law and order. Generally, deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) oversee divisions, while assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) oversee sub divisions.
Who Appoints the DCP?
- The state government appoints the DCP.
- The Government of India in the case of Delhi appoints the Deputy commissioner.
- The process generally begins with the home ministry. It issues a notification to invite applications from eligible candidates.
- The responsibility for selection of candidates is then sent to the state government, which appoints the DCP.
Powers and Responsibilities of a Deputy Commissioner of Police
The Deputy Commissioner of Police enjoys immense powers. He is a very senior officers of the IPS. He holds the accountability for reporting to Commissioner of Police, who is the head of the police force in a city. The power of a DCP is presented below;
Types of Deputy Commissioner of Police in India
There are different types of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) roles in India. The set of responsibilities and duties vary for each type. Some well known types of DCP roles in India may encompass the following, as presented below:
Deputy Commissioner of Police Salary in India
The actual in-hand salary varies by state. IPS officers who have done 8–12 years of service are usually appointed as DCPs. In some states, State Police Service officers may hold DCP rank with slightly different pay levels.
Promotions for Deputy Commissioners of Police
Deputy Commissioners of Police are promoted based on performance and administration handling abilities.
For IPS Officers who are recruitment through Civil Services Examination (UPSC), the positing in the beginning is Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) can be promoted after 6–8 years of service, promoted to Superintendent of Police (SP) or DCP in Commissionerate cities. They can be further promoted as mentioned below:
→ Deputy Inspector General (DIG) → Inspector General (IG) → Additional DG → Director General (DGP)
For State Police Service (SPS) Officers, who are recruited through State PSC exams as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), they can be promoted after 10–15 years, eligible for promotion to SP/DCP.
Know: BPSC Salary and BPSC Full Form
Factors for Promotion
Seniority and years of service, Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs), Departmental Examinations (in some states), Availability of sanctioned posts, Vigilance clearance and performance record.
So, a DCP is generally an IPS officer promoted after years of service. In some cities, senior state officers can also be posted as DCPs before or after IPS induction.
States and Union Territories without Police Commissionerate System
The following states and union territories in India do not have Police Commissionerate System. Hence, Deputy Commissioners of Police and Commissioners of Police are not there.
