Civil Police Officer

Civil Police Officer (abbreviated CPO) is the designation given to a police constable in the Kerala Police, followed by a Senior Civil Police Officer (SCPO) for head constable. Both CPO and SCPO belongs to the Kerala Civil Police Subordinate Service (KCP). A CPO has no shoulder insignia, while an SCPO has three stripes or chevrons. More than half of the force is made up of civil police officers. They work in police stations, traffic police units, and other local police units in Kerala.

In 2011, during the tenure of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan as the Home Minister of Kerala, the government began adopting the designations Civil Police Officer and Senior Civil Police Officer for personnel holding the ranks of constable and head constable, respectively. It was part of a broader initiative to modernize and professionalize the police force in Kerala.

After joining as a CPO, personnel may be promoted to Senior Civil Police Officer (SCPO), Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI), Sub-Inspector of Police (SI), and beyond, based on their seniority, performance, and educational qualifications.

A civil police officer may serve in any of these branches, including the Local Police (District Police), State Special Branch, Crime Branch, Coastal Police, Headquarters, State Crime Records Bureau, Training Division and others. They serve in other departments on deputation basis, including Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) and others.

Uniform and insignia
Civil Police Officer wear a yellow lanyard on the top of the shirt and a cap with an Ashoka Chakra on dark blue with a yellow ribbon. The baton (Lathi) is the personal weapon of the CPOs.

Recruitment and training
To become a Civil Police Officer in the Kerala Police, candidates must have a minimum educational qualification of 12th standard or equivalent. They must also meet certain physical standards and pass a series of tests, including a written examination, physical fitness test, and medical examination conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission. Candidates who wish to become Civil Police Officers in Kerala Police must have a minimum educational qualification of a higher secondary education (12th grade). They must also meet other physical and medical standards set by the police department.

The recruitment process involves a written examination, physical efficiency test, and medical examination. Successful candidates then undergo training at the Kerala Police Academy, where they are trained in various aspects of policing, such as law, investigation, and physical fitness.

Once recruited, Civil Police Officers undergo training at the Kerala Police Academy which is located in Thrissur or any other Armed Police battalions. The 9 (Nine) month long training covers various aspects of policing, including criminal law, investigation techniques, public relations, and human rights. The training also includes physical fitness training, weapon handling, and drill exercises.

Career progression
For civil police officers to receive a grade designation as grade senior civil police officers (SCPOs), they must have served for a minimum of 12 years. For SCPOs to receive a grade designation as grade assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs), they must have served a minimum of 20 years, and for ASIs to receive a grade designation as grade sub-inspectors, they must have served a minimum of 25 years.

When grade designations are conferred to officials, they would be entitled to receive the salaries of the concerned ranks, but they would serve in those designations only when the vacancies become available.


 * Grade Senior Civil Police Officer (GSCPO) (after 12 years of service)
 * Grade Assistant Sub Inspector of Police (GASI) (after 20 years of service)
 * Grade Sub Inspector of Police (GSI) (after 25 years of service)
 * Sub Inspector of Police (General Executive) (normal promotion, depending on seniority, vacancy, department test, etc.)