UK police ranks

Most of the fifty-six UK Police forces use a standard set of ranks, listed here in ascending seniority. Badges of rank are usually worn on the epaulettes, although sergeants may wear their stripes on their upper sleeves in formal uniform.

• Police Constable (PC) (warrant card number)
• Sergeant (Sgt or PS) (three point down chevrons over warrant card number)
• Inspector (Insp) (two stars of the Order of the Bath, informally known as pips)
• Chief Inspector (Ch Insp) (three pips)
• Superintendent (Supt) (crown)
• Chief Superintendent (Ch Supt) (crown over one pip)
• Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) (crossed tipstaves in a laurel wreath)
• Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) (one pip over ACC badge)
• Chief Constable (crown over ACC badge)

The Chief Constable is the head of each police force. Ranks above Chief Superintendent are usually non-operational management roles, and are often referred to as "Chief Officer" ranks.

Officers below the rank of Assistant Chief Constable who are members of the Criminal Investigation Department or Special Branch have the prefix Detective before their rank.

The Metropolitan Police and City of London Police have a different ranking system above Chief Superintendent (see their articles for more details):

• Commander (Comm)
• Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) (Metropolitan Police only)
• Assistant Commissioner (AC)
• Deputy Commissioner (DC) (Metropolitan Police only)
• Commissioner

Special Constables have their own ranking and insignia system which varies from force to force.