Deputy Superintendent

Deputy Superintendent, or Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), was a rank used by police forces of the British Empire. In some territories it was called Deputy District Superintendent of Police (DDSP).

The rank was usually confined to Europeans, and not all territories used it. The rank below was usually Assistant Superintendent and the rank above was (District) Superintendent. In states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh the officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police is also called Circle Officer (C.O.).

India

In India, the rank had a slightly different meaning. In that country, European senior officers of the rank of Assistant Superintendent or above belonged to the national Indian Police Service, whereas Indian Inspectors and Constables belonged to the individual provincial police forces. The rank of Deputy Superintendent was created in the early years of the 20th century as the policy of Indianisation was introduced. Deputy Superintendents were Indian officers who belonged to the provincial police forces, either direct entrants at that rank or promoted from Inspector. Although Deputy Superintendents were members of the provincial forces instead of the IPS, they were equal in every way to Assistant Superintendents and filled the same positions. Deputy Superintendents who showed potential for promotion could transfer to the IPS in the rank of Assistant Superintendent.