Sub-Divisional Inspector
Encyclopedia
Sub-divisional inspector was a rank used in the London
Metropolitan Police
from the 1870s or 1880s until 1949. A sub-divisional inspector ranked above an inspector
and below a chief inspector
. As the title suggests, he or she commanded a sub-division
or held an equivalent administrative position. The equivalent rank in the Criminal Investigation Department
was divisional detective inspector
or first class detective inspector. In 1949, the rank was absorbed into that of chief inspector
, although in 1953 officers who held the position of sub-divisional commander were regraded again to superintendent
grade I, and are thus equivalent to modern superintendents.
Until 1922, the sub-divisional inspector wore a single star ("pip") on his collar or epaulette
s. From 1922, he wore two stars on his epaulette
s.
Bertha Clayden
was the first (and possibly only) woman to be promoted to the rank, in 1934.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
from the 1870s or 1880s until 1949. A sub-divisional inspector ranked above an inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
and below a chief inspector
Chief inspector
Chief inspector is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police .-Australia:...
. As the title suggests, he or she commanded a sub-division
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 the 1990s divisions of many forces were restructured and retitled Basic Command Units , although some forces continue to refer to them as divisions.The...
or held an equivalent administrative position. The equivalent rank in the Criminal Investigation Department
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
was divisional detective inspector
Divisional Detective Inspector
Divisional detective inspector , also known as first class detective inspector, was a rank in the Criminal Investigation Department of London's Metropolitan Police, equivalent to sub-divisional inspector in the uniformed branch...
or first class detective inspector. In 1949, the rank was absorbed into that of chief inspector
Chief inspector
Chief inspector is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police .-Australia:...
, although in 1953 officers who held the position of sub-divisional commander were regraded again to superintendent
Superintendent
Superintendent may refer to:*Superintendent , Superintendent of Police, SP, Senior Superintendent of Police or SSP - a police rank*Superintendent or Superintendent of Prison, Superintendent of Jail, Senior Superintendent of Jail - a rank in prisons - head of a district, central or special prison...
grade I, and are thus equivalent to modern superintendents.
Until 1922, the sub-divisional inspector wore a single star ("pip") on his collar or epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s. From 1922, he wore two stars on his epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s.
Bertha Clayden
Bertha Clayden
Bertha Clayden was a British police officer. After the London Metropolitan Police's women police were reorganised in 1922 and most were dismissed, Clayden was put in charge of the twenty who remained, becoming the first attested female officer to hold the rank of Inspector...
was the first (and possibly only) woman to be promoted to the rank, in 1934.