81.250.246.39 at 15:33, 30 June 2021

2021-06-30T15:33:22Z

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{{short description|Municipal Police Force in West Bengal, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
|agencyname = Kolkata Police Force
|nativename =
|nativenamea =
|nativenamer =
|commonname = Kolkata Police
|abbreviation = KP
|fictional =
|patch =
|patchcaption =
|logo = Kolkata_Police_Logo.png
|logocaption = [[Insignia]] of Kolkata Police
|badge =
|badgecaption =
|flag =
|flagcaption =
|imagesize =
|motto =
|mottotranslated =
|formedyear = 1866
|formedmonthday =
|preceding1 =
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|employees = 35000
|volunteers =
|budget = {{INRConvert|1727.0843|c}} (2021–22 est.)<ref>{{cite web|date=Feb 5, 2021 |title=Detailed Demands For Grants For 2021–22 |url=http://wbfin.nic.in/writereaddata/Budget_Publication/2021_bp3.pdf |access-date=Feb 6, 2021}}</ref>

|legalpersonality =
|country =
|countryabbr =
|national =
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|divtype = Police area
|divname = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]] {{flagicon|India}}
|divdab =
|subdivtype =
|subdivname =
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|map =
|mapcaption = Kolkata Police Jurisdiction Area
|dmap =
|sizearea = {{convert|311|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}
|sizepopulation = 45,80,544 (within 200.71 km**)
|legaljuris =
|governingbody =
|governingbodyscnd =
|constitution1 = [http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/west_bengal/1866/1866WB4.pdf The Calcutta Police Act, 1866 & Calcutta (Suburban Police) Act, 1866]
|police = Yes
|local = Yes
|military =
|paramilitary =
|provost =
|gendarmerie =
|religious =
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|headquarters = 18, Lalbazar Street, [[Kolkata]]-700 001
|hqlocmap =
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|hqlocmapborder =
|hqlocleft =
|hqloctop =
|hqlocmappoptitle =
|sworntype = [[Gazetted Officer (India)|Gazetted Officer]]
|sworn = 38 IPS officers<ref>http://wbpolice.gov.in/wbp/Common/WBP_IPS_Posting_new.aspx</ref>
|unsworntype =
|unsworn =
|unsworntype1 =
|unsworn1 =
|multinational =
|electeetype = Minister
|minister1name = [[Mamata Banerjee]]
|minister1pfo = [[Chief Minister of West Bengal|Chief Minister]] & [[Department of Home (West Bengal)|Home Affairs]]
|chief1name = [[Soumen Mitra]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/anuj-sharma-appointed-new-kolkata-police-chief/articleshow/68061970.cms|title=Anuj Sharma appointed new Kolkata police chief – Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-02-19}}</ref>
|chief1position = [[Police Commissioner of Kolkata|Commissioner]]
|parentagency = [[Department of Home (West Bengal)]]
|child1agency =
|unittype =
|unitname =
|officetype =
|officename =
|provideragency =
|uniformedas =
|stationtype = Police Station
|stations = 79 <ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Kolkata-to-get-eight-more-police-stations/articleshow/38039369.cms</ref>
|website = [http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in/ www.kolkatapolice.gov.in]
|footnotes =
|reference =
}}

[[File:Kolkata police Traffic Sergeant Picture.png|thumb|A Kolkata Police traffic sergeant with the newly-owned Harley Davidson in front of [[Raj Bhavan, Kolkata]]]]
The '''Kolkata Police Force''' ('''KPF''') is one of the three presidency [[police force]]s of the [[India]]n [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]]. Kolkata Police has the task of policing the metropolitan area (apart from [[Bidhannagar]] and [[New Town, Kolkata]] which is served by the [[Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate|Bidhannagar City Police]] ) of [[Kolkata]] (formerly [[Calcutta]]), [[India]], as defined under the Calcutta Police Act, 1866 and the Calcutta Suburban Police Act, 1866. The primary functions of the forces are maintaining law and order in the city, traffic management, prevention and detection of crime and co-ordinating various citizen-centric services for the people of Kolkata. As of 2018, Kolkata Police has 8 divisions covering 79 police stations. It has a strength of approximately 35,000 and a territorial jurisdiction of 243 km2 (approx). There are 8 battalions of armed forces as well as specialised branches. The force also uses various modern technologies for effective handling of unconventional crimes, terrorism and related activities.

==History==

===Early years (17th century)===

The history of the present structure of policing in [[Kolkata]] goes back to East India company times, when the city was known as "Calcutta", and was an early settlement of the [[English East India Company]]. Calcutta was founded on the eastern banks of the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly]] by an Englishman, [[Job Charnock]] in 1690. Policing in Calcutta's earliest days was confined to the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] administration and their local representatives. Bengal was still technically a part of the Mughal Empire, but the [[Nawabs of Bengal]], based in [[Murshidabad]] in [[South Bengal|Northern South Bengal]], were its effective rulers. The watch and ward functions were entrusted to a ''Kotwal'' or town prefect who had 45 peons under him, armed with traditional weapons like staves and [[spear]]s, to deal with miscreants.<ref>{{cite web|title=Origins of Kolkata Police|url=http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in/Origin.aspx|publisher=Kolkata police|access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref>

===East India Company Police (1720–1845)===
In 1720, the East India Company formally appointed an officer to be in charge of civil and criminal administration. He was assisted by an Indian functionary commonly known as ''black deputy'' or ''black zamindar''. Under him were three naib-dewans, one of whom was in charge of the police. The settlement was divided into "thanas" (police stations) under "thanadars" who had in turn contingents of "naiks" and "paiks". A small contingent of river police was also formed. A statute passed in 1778 raised the strength of the police in Calcutta to 700 paiks, 31 thanadars and 34 naibs under a [[superintendent (police)|superintendent]]. In 1785 commissioners of conservancy were appointed for the town who also looked after watch and ward. Policing was still very loosely organised. In 1794, justices of peace were appointed for the [[municipal]] administration of Calcutta and its [[suburbs]], under a chief [[magistrate]] who was directly in charge of the Police. In 1806 justices of peace were constituted as magistrates of [[24 Parganas]] and parts of the adjacent districts within a 20-mile radius of the town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Consolidation of the Police Force|url=http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in/Consolidation.aspx|publisher=Kolkata police|access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref>

===Consolidation (1845–1866)===
The middle decades of the 19th century witnessed a greater systematisation and institutionalisation of policing in Calcutta. A city magistrate named William Coats Blacquiere inaugurated a network of spies or {{transl|bn|goendas}} ({{lang-bn|গোয়েন্দা}}). In 1845 a committee under J.H. Patton brought about key changes in police organisation which now began to be modelled on the [[London Metropolitan Police]]. A Commissioner of Police was appointed with powers of a justice of peace to preserve law and order, detect crime and apprehend offenders. In 1856 the [[Governor-General]] promulgated an Act treating the '''Calcutta Police''' as a separate organisation and S. Wauchope, who was then the chief magistrate of Calcutta, was appointed as the first Commissioner of Police.<ref name="Kolkata Police">{{cite web|title=Colonial History of the Kolkata Police|url=http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in/TheEmpireAtZenith.aspx|publisher=Kolkata Police|access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref>

1857 was a difficult time for the English East India Company. The year saw the first [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|upsurge]] against British rule. The rebellion led to the dissolution of the East India Company in 1858. It also led the British to reorganise the army, the financial system and the administration in India.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bayly|1990|pp=194–197}}</ref> The country was thereafter directly governed by the [[The Crown|crown]] as the new [[British Raj]]. Commissioner Wauchope handled the situation ably and was [[knight]]ed for his achievement. During the incumbency of his successor V.H. Schalch the Calcutta Police Act and the Calcutta Suburban Police Act were enacted in 1866.

===Modernisation (1866–1947)===
In 1868, [[Sir Stuart Hogg]] set up the Detective Department in Calcutta Police with A. Younan as the superintendent and R. Lamb as the first-class inspector. Hogg was both the Commissioner of Police and the Chairman of the [[Calcutta Municipal Corporation]]. Sir Fredrick Halliday, who was appointed as the Commissioner of Police in 1906, also introduced several changes in the administration of Calcutta Police including the system of running a Control Room. In response to the threat of the nationalist organisation [[Anushilan Samiti]], Haliday oversaw the creation of the [[Special Branch]] in June 1909 on the recommendation of [[Sir Charles Augustus Tegart]]. For his numerous contributions to the growth of the city police, he is regarded as the father of modern Calcutta Police.<ref name="Kolkata Police"/> [[Sir Charles Augustus Tegart]] headed the Detective Department was the first cadre of the [[Indian Police Service|Indian Police]] (IP) force in the organisation. He reorganised the city police force and made it efficient. A highly decorated officer, he was the Commissioner of Police from 1923–31 and was admired for keeping the city free from crime. However, he was unpopular with [[Resistance movement|freedom fighters]] and his encounters with revolutionaries are a part of popular [[Bengali people|Bengali]] folklore. The same time saw the rise of three [[Bengali people|Bengali]] police officers named Ramgati Banerjee, Sukumar Sengupta and [[Zakir Husain (governor)|Zakir Hussain]]. During the [[Salt March]] movement in 1930, the Calcutta Police was headed by Charles Tegart as Police Commissioner, Ramgati Banerjee as DC (South) and Sukumar Sengupta as DC (North). Later, Banerjee left his position and took up teaching as a profession, and Hussain left the job to become the First Inspector-General of East Pakistan. Sukumar Sengupta continued in the job to become the first Bengali Inspector General of Police, West Bengal soon after independence.

===Post-independence (1947 onward)===
[[File:Kolkata Police van -Wikimedia Photowalk Kolkata 20111218 IMG 4596.jpg|thumb|right|Police van]]
The colonial history of the Calcutta Police force was primarily repressive and anti-nationalist. After [[Indian independence movement|India gained independence]] from British rule in 1947, Calcutta Police was re-organised as an essential element of the Indian law enforcement agencies. Surendra Nath Chatterjee was the first Indian Commissioner of Police. As of 2014, Kolkata Police has 8 divisions covering 70 police stations. It has a strength of approximately 35,000 and a territorial jurisdiction of 243 km2 (approx). There are 8 battalions of armed forces as well as specialised branches.

==Logo==
Each symbol of the Kolkata Police seal has a special significance. At the centre is the Ashok Stambha, which has been adopted from [[Ashoka]]'s [[Sarnath]] [[Lion Capital of Asoka|Lion Capital]]. The 24-spoked wheel is referred to as the [[Dharmachakra]]. [[Dharma]] or religion is the manifestation of the inner conscience and as [[Swami Vivekananda]] said: "Religion is the manifestation of the divinity already in man". Below the Dharmachakra is inscribed "[[Satyameva Jayate]]" which signifies that Truth always prevails. In between the two circles, which encircle the Ashok Stambha, is the symbolic [[peacock]], which is the [[national bird]]. The seal signifies upholding [[truth]], [[valour]] and [[justice]]. "We who enforce the law must not merely obey it. We have an obligation to set a moral example, which those whom we protect can follow."

==Organizational structure==
[[File:India - Kolkata traffic cop - 3661.jpg|alt=Two mounted-police officers|thumb|White uniformed Traffic Police directing traffic in Kolkata.]]
{{asof|2018}}, Kolkata Police has 8 divisions covering 79 police stations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ghosh|first=Dwaipayan|title=Four new police stations in Kolkata|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Four-new-police-stations-in-Kolkata/articleshow/31103457.cms|access-date=27 April 2014|newspaper=The Times of India|date=27 February 2014}}</ref> It has a strength of 35,000 and a territorial jurisdiction of 243 km2. The Commissioner is the chief of the Kolkata Police. The commissioner is appointed by the [[Government of West Bengal]] and reports independently to the Home Minister of the State. The headquarters are at 18, Lalbazar Street, near [[B.B.D. Bagh]] area in Central Kolkata. The commissioner is an [[Indian Police Service]] officer of the rank of Additional DG & IG of police. Shri [[Soumen Mitra|Soumen Mitra (IPS)]] is the present commissioner. The state government vests the commissioner with the powers of a magistrate of First Class with limits within the suburbs of Calcutta.He has power to issue orders with his discretion.

===Units===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-3}}
;Divisions:
# South Division
# North and North Suburban Division
# Central Division
# Eastern Suburban Division
# Port Division
# South East Division
# South Suburban Division (Jadavpur Division)
# South West Division (Behala Division)
# East Division
{{col-2-of-3}}
;Branches:
# Detective Department
# [[Special Branch]]
# Enforcement Branch
# [[Kolkata Traffic Police]]
# [[Provincial Armed Constabulary|Reserve Force]]
# Wireless Branch
# Security Control Organisation
{{col-3-of-3}}
;Other units:
# Police Training School
# [[Home Guard (India)|Home Guard Organisation]]
# [[Special Task Force (India)|Special Task Force]]
# The Kolkata Armed Police (KAP) are West Bengal's state armed police force for operations in Kolkata. The KAP is part of the KPF and consists of eight battalions and three special units. The special units are the [[Rapid Action Force|RAF]], the Special Action Force (SAF, approx. 160 members), the Commando Force (approximately 200 members) and the Combat Force.<ref name="right">{{cite web|url=http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in/images/docs/rti.pdf |title=Right to Information |publisher=Kolkata Police }}</ref>
{{col-end}}

===Rank structure===
{{Main|List of police ranks in India}}
The rank structure of Kolkata Police officers is as follows (in descending order of seniority):
* Commissioner of Police
* (One) Special Commissioner of Police
* (Six) Additional Commissioners of Police
* (Five) Joint Commissioners of Police
* Deputy Commissioners of Police
* Assistant Commissioners of Police
* Inspectors
* Sub-Inspector/Wireless Supervisor/Sergeant/Subedar
* Assistant Sub-Inspector
* Naik
* Constable/Sepoy
* Wireless Helper
* Junior Constable
* Home Guard
* Civic Volunteer
* Traffic Volunteer
* Kolkata Green Police.

===Jurisdiction===
The jurisdiction of the Kolkata Police covers the area of [[Kolkata District]] and an adjacent area as well. That adjacent area, like Kolkata District, is within the boundaries of the [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]]. The Kolkata Police's entire area comprises all 144 wards of the KMC .

==Administration==
===Particulars of the Kolkata Police Commissionerate, functions and duties===

Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, is the Executive and Administrative Head of Kolkata Police Force. Under his command and control, there are:

{| class="wikitable" solid #cccccc
|- style="background:#ccc;"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="4"| '''Rank structure of the Kolkata Police'''<ref name="right" />
|- style="background:#efefef; text-align:center;"
|| '''S no.''' || style="text-align:center;"| '''Rank''' || style="text-align:center;"| '''Strength'''
|-
| 1 || Commissioner of Police || 1
|-
| 2 || Spl. Commissioner of Police || 1
|-
| 3 || Addl. Commissioner of Police || 4
|-
| 4 || Jt. Commissioner of Police || 9
|-
| 5 || Dy. Commissioner of Police || 33
|-
| 6 || Asstt. Commissioner of Police || 139
|-
| 7 || Asstt. Commissioner of Police (Women) || 1
|-
| 8 || Inspector of Police || 590
|-
| 9 ||Inspector of Police (Armed) || 10
|-
| 10 || Inspector of Police (Female) || 12
|-
| 11 || Sub-Inspector of Police || 1787
|-
| 12 || Sub-Inspector of Police (Female) || 105
|-
| 13 || Sub-Inspector of Police (Armed) || 70
|-
| 14 || Sergeant || 1553
|-
| 15 || Sergeant Major || 29
|-
| 16 || Subedar || 150
|-
| 17 || Asstt. Sub-Inspector || 2797
|-
| 18 || Asstt. Sub-Inspector (Female) || 57
|-
| 19 || Asstt. Sub-Inspector (Armed) || 1606
|-
| 20 || Head Farrier || 1
|-
| 21 || Lady Head Constable || 7
|-
| 22 || Women Constable || 394
|-
| 23 || Farrier Constable || 1
|-
| 24 || Constable || 13149 / 300 RC
|-
| 25 || Sepoy || 7197
|}

===Police stations===
Police stations under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Police are as follows:<ref>http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in</ref><ref>http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in/images/docs/rti.pdf</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=15em|rules=yes}}
# [[Alipore#Police district|Alipore]]
# [[Amherst Street (Kolkata)#Police district|Amherst Street]]
# [[Amherst Street (Kolkata)#Police district|Amherst Street Women]]
# [[Anandapur, Kolkata#Police district|Anandapur]]
# [[Ballygunge#Police districts|Ballygunge]]
# [[Bansdroni#Police district|Bansdroni]]
# [[Behala#Police district|Behala]]
# [[Behala#Police district|Behala Women]]
# [[Beliaghata#Police district|Beliaghata]]
# [[Beniapukur#Police district|Beniapukur]]
# [[Bhowanipur#Police district|Bhowanipur]]
# [[Bowbazar#Police district|Bowbazar]]
# [[Burrabazar#Police district|Burrabazar]]
# [[Burtolla#Police district|Burtolla]]
# [[Charu Market#Police district|Charu Market]]
# [[Chetla#Police district|Chetla]]
# [[Chitpur#Police district|Chitpur]]
# [[Cossipore#Police district|Cossipore]]
# [[Ekbalpur#Police district|Ekbalpur]]
# [[Entally#Police district|Entally]]
# [[Garden Reach#Police districts|Garden Reach]]
# [[Garfa#Police district|Garfa]]
# [[Ballygunge#Police districts|Gariahat]]
# [[Girish Park#Police district|Girish Park]]
# [[Golf Green#Police district|Golf Green]]
# [[Hare Street#Police district|Hare Street]]
# [[Haridevpur#Police district|Haridevpur]]
# [[Hastings, Kolkata#Police district|Hastings]]
# [[Jadavpur#Police district|Jadavpur]]
# [[Jorabagan#Police district|Jorabagan]]
# [[Jorasanko#Police district|Jorasanko]]
# [[Kalighat#Police district|Kalighat]]
# [[Bantala#Police district|Kolkata Leather Complex]]
#[[Park Circus#Police district|Karaya]]
# [[Park Circus#Police district|Karaya Women]]
# [[Kasba, Kolkata#Police district|Kasba]]
# [[Ballygunge#Police districts|Lake]]
# [[Maidan (Kolkata)#Police district|Maidan]]
# [[Maniktala#Police district|Maniktala]]
# [[Garden Reach#Police districts|Metiabruz]]
# [[Sealdah#Police district|Muchipara]]
# [[Badartala#Police district|Nadial]]
# [[Narkeldanga#Police district|Narkeldanga]]
# [[Netaji Nagar, Kolkata#Police district|Netaji Nagar]]
# [[New Alipore#Police district|New Alipore]]
# [[Janbazar#Police district|New Market]]
# [[Strand Road, Kolkata#Police district|North Port]]
# [[Panchasayar#Police district|Panchasayar]]
# [[Park Street, Kolkata#Police district|Park Street]]
# [[Parnasree Pally#Police district|Parnashree]]
# [[Baishnabghata Patuli Township#Police district|Patuli]]
# [[Baishnabghata Patuli Township#Police district|Patuli Women]]
# [[Phoolbagan#Police district|Phoolbagan]]
# [[Posta, Burrabazar#Police district|Posta]]
# [[Dhapa, India#Police district|Pragati Maidan]]
# [[Mukundapur, Kolkata#Police district|Purba Jadavpur]]
# [[Ballygunge#Police districts|Rabindra Sarobar]]
# [[Rajabagan#Police district|Rajabagan]]
# [[Regent Park, Kolkata#Police district|Regent Park]]
# [[Sarsuna#Police district|Sarsuna]]
# [[Shakespeare Sarani#Police district|Shakespeare Sarani]]
# [[Shyampukur#Police district|Shyampukur]]
# [[Sinthee#Police district|Sinthee]]
# [[Kidderpore#Police district|South Port]]
# [[Survey Park#Police district|Survey Park]]
# [[Tala, Kolkata#Police district|Tala]]
# [[Taltala#Police district|Taltala]]
# [[Taltala#Police district|Taltala Women]]
# [[Tangra, Kolkata#Police district|Tangra]]
# [[Taratala#Police district|Taratala]]
# [[Thakurpukur#Police district|Thakurpukur]]
# [[Tiljala#Police district|Tiljala]]
# [[Tollygunge#Police district|Tollygunge]]
# [[Tollygunge#Police district|Tollygunge Women]]
# [[Topsia#Police district|Topsia]]
# [[Ultadanga#Police district|Ultadanga]]
# [[Ultadanga#Police district|Ultadanga Women]]
# [[Watgunge#Police district|Watgunge]]
# [[Watgunge#Police district|Watgunge Women]]
# [[Garden Reach#Police districts|West Port]]
{{div col end}}
[[File:Entrance - Police Training School - 247 AJC Bose Road - Kolkata 2015-02-18 2873.JPG|alt=|thumb|Police Training School, [[Kolkata]]]]
[[File:Kolkata Police ambulance - Wikimedia Photowalk Kolkata 20111218 IMG 4595.jpg|thumb|A Kolkata police ambulance]]

==See also==
* [[Divisions of Kolkata Police]]
* [[West Bengal Police]]
* [[CID West Bengal]]
* [[Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate]]
* [[Barrackpore Police Commissionerate]]
* [[Howrah Police Commissionerate]]
* [[Indian Imperial Police]]
* [[Kolkata Police Friendship Cup Football Tournament]]
* [[Kolkata Police community policing initiatives]]

==References==

<references />
* "Evolution of the Calcutta Police: A Calcutta Police presentation on the occasion of the Calcutta Tercentenary, 1990", Calcutta Police, 1990

==External links==
{{commons category|Kolkata Police}}
* {{Official website|http://www.kolkatapolice.org/}}

{{Law enforcement in India}}

{{West Bengal}}

[[Category:Organisations based in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Kolkata Police Force| ]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1856]]
[[Category:1856 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Police Commissionerate in West Bengal]]

Kolkata Police - Revision history

203.18.180.239: fixed issues

81.250.246.39 at 15:33, 30 June 2021