Hyderabad City Police

1847-1948

The Nizam of Hyderabad used to appoint the Commissioners of Police who were officers of the Hyderabad Civil Service and they used to function during his pleasure. They were answerable to the Nizam directly on various matters of policing in Hyderabad city. However, as far as administrative matters were concerned the Commissioner of Police used to correspond with the Home Department directly. The Commissioner of Police was popularly called as “Kotwal” and was responsible for the maintenance of law and order, prevention and detection of crime, etc.^[2]

Reorganization

Due to rapid increase in population, there has been a steady increase in crime. In view of the above in 1981 the City Police was re-organised, vide G.O.Ms.No.341, Home (Pol.D) Department, dated: 1981-05-30. The following structure was instituted:

• The disciplinary and administrative control of the force is held by the Commissioner of Police, having powers and functions of Additional District Magistrate.
• The city was divided into 5 zones : Hyderabad South, Hyderabad East, Hyderabad west, Hyderabad central & Hyderabad North, the 4 zones were again divided into 12 divisions. Each Zone is under the in charge of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (D.C.P.) of the rank of Superintendent Of Police for maintenance of Law and Order, Criminal Investigation and keeping up the morale of the force.
• Each Division is under the care of an Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP) of the rank of Deputy Superintendent Of Police, who works under the control of DCP. He is responsible for prevention and detection of crimes, maintenance of L&O and discipline of the force.
• Each Police station is under the care of Inspector of Police who is the Station House Officer(S.H.O) and performs all the duties and exercises all the powers of the S.H.O.
• The city crimes station was renamed as “Detective Department” which works under the D.C.P.,assisted by ACPs and Inspectors.
• In 1992, the Government of Andhra Pradesh sanctioned 3 Joint Commissioner of Police posts in the rank of Deputy Inspector General (D.I.G.) to assist the Commissioner of Police for effective functioning and better administration of City Police each in-charge of Co-ordination, Crimes and Security.
• One Sub-Inspector of Police was to be placed in charge of Law and Order duties and another for Crime duties for each Police Station. A Divisional Detective inspector for each Division was provided for. In order to achieve this functional division it was proposed in the scheme to increases the number of posts of Sub-Inspectors and Head Constables and decrease the number of posts of Police Constables.