# Kerala Police

The Kerala Police is the law enforcement agency for the Indian state of Kerala. Kerala Police has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. The motto of the force is "Mridhu Bhave Dhrida Kruthye" which means "Soft in Temperament, Firm in Action" in Sanskrit. It operates under the Department of Home, Government of Kerala. The force is headed by the State Police Chief, and the incumbent chief is Shaikh Darvesh Sahib, IPS.
Kerala Police has a reputation for being one of the best-managed state police forces in the nation, and the state ranks among the top states for maintaining law and order. One of the first police forces in South Asia to put community policing into practise is Kerala Police, which was one of the first to do so through legislation. The term "Janamaithri" Policing, which means "people-friendly Policing," is used to refer to it.
According to the data from Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), there are a total of 564 police stations in Kerala. Among them, 484 police stations deal with local law enforcement, while the remaining 80 are specialised for specific purposes. Out of these, 382 police stations are located in rural areas, while 102 police stations are located in urban areas. The specialized police stations include 14 women's police stations, 13 railway police stations, 18 coastal police stations, 19 cybercrime police stations, 1 crime branch police station, and 1 ATS police station.
The rural police stations account for the majority of police stations in Kerala, constituting approximately 68% of the total. The urban police stations account for about 18% of the total, while the special purpose police stations account for about 14% of the total.

## History

Prior to independence, the Kerala Police was governed by different administrations.
Kerala Police traces its roots to the erstwhile Travancore State Police, which was established in 1936. After the integration of the princely states of Travancore and Cochin, the present-day Kerala Police was formed in 1956. The first Chief of Kerala Police was Shri. N.Chandrasekharan Nair IPS. N. Chandrasekharan Nair IPS became the first Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Kerala and is often recognized as the first police chief of the state.
In 1960, the Kerala Police was given more powers and duties by the enactment of the Kerala Police Act of 1960. This legislative framework provided the foundation for modern policing in Kerala. The first women's police station in India was established in Kozhikode in 1973 and was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi.
In 1981, the position of the head of the Kerala Police department was elevated to Director General of Police (DGP). T. Ananta Shankara Iyer IPS became the first DGP of Kerala.

## Current general/flag officers

| Sl.No | Name | Status | Rank |
| 1 | Shaik Darvesh Saheb IPS | State Police Chief | DGP |
| 2 | Manoj Abraham IPS | ADGP, Law & Order | ADGP |
| 3 | P Vijayan IPS | ADGP, Intelligence | ADGP |
| 4 | H Venkatesh IPS | ADGP, Crime Branch, EOW (HQ)(Addl. Charge), IGP Cyber Operation & IGP SCRB | ADGP |
| 5 | S Sreejith IPS | ADGP, Head Quarters | ADGP |
| 6 | M.R Ajithkumar IPS | ADGP, Armed Police Battalions | ADGP |
| 7 | G. Sparjan Kumar IPS | IGP Intelligence, IGP Internal Security(Addl.charge) | IGP |
| 8 | Rajpal Meena IPS | IGP, North Zone | IGP |
| 9 | S Syamsundar IPS | IGP, South Zone | IGP |
| 10 | K. Sethu Raman IPS | Director KEPA | IGP |
| 11 | Gugulloth Lakshman IPS | IGP, Training | IGP |
| 12 | A Akbar IPS | IGP Crime Branch, Ernakulam | IGP |
| 13 | P. Prakash IPS | IGP Crime Branch, Kozhikkode | IGP |
| 14 | Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar S IPS | Traffic and RSM | IGP |

## Zones, ranges and districts

Zone :
| South Zone | South Zone | North Zone | North Zone |
| Range ||||
| Thiruvananthapuram | Ernakulam | Thrissur | Kannur |
| Commissionerate ||||
| Thiruvananthapuram City | Thiruvananthapuram City | Kozhikode City | Kozhikode City |
| Ernakulam City | Ernakulam City | Thrissur City | Thrissur City |
| Kollam City | Kollam City | Kannur City | Kannur City |
| District Police ||||
| Thiruvananthapuram Rural | Kottayam | Thrissur Rural | Wayanad |
| Kollam Rural | Idukki | Palakkad | Kannur Rural |
| Pathanamthitta | Ernakulam Rural | Malappuram | Kasargod |
| Alappuzha | | Kozhikode Rural | |

## Organization
### Police headquarters

Kerala Police is headed by the State Police Chief. He is the senior most Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in the State and is of the rank of Director General of Police (DGP). State Police Chief is designated as the Head of the department for all administrative and operational purposes. The state police headquarters is also the office of the State Police Chief and is situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the state's capital. The SPC is assisted by staff officers ranging from the Additional Director General of Police to the Deputy Superintendent of Police at the headquarters. The HQ oversees and coordinates the overall functioning of the police force in the state.
The state police structure comprises units such as Law & Order, Crime Branch, Armed Police Battalions, State Special Branch, Kerala Police Academy, Coastal Police, State Crime Records Bureau, Social Policing and Traffic, Economic Offences Wing, Protection of Civil Rights, and Cyber Operations. Each unit is further divided into several divisions, zones, ranges, districts for better administration. Each unit is overseen by an officer with the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP).

## Law and order
### Office of the ADGP, Law and Order

The Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order (ADGP L&O) is the head of the law and order wing of the Kerala Police, with its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. As a key component of the state police, the ADGP L&O oversees the overall supervision and administration of police zones, ranges, and district police, ensuring effective law and order maintenance throughout Kerala. The ADGP L&O is responsible for the day-to-day operations of local police, including police station functions, patrolling, crime prevention and detection, law and order maintenance, and traffic management. The ADGP L&O functions under the State Police Chief and reports to him.

### Police zones

The state of Kerala is divided into two police zones: South Zone and North Zone. Each zone is headed by an Inspector General of Police (IGP). The headquarters of the South Zone is at Nandavanam in Thiruvananthapuram district and the North Zone is at Nadakkavu in Kozhikode. The zone is further divided into ranges, with each police range encompassing several police districts. There are four police ranges in total: Thiruvananthapuram Range, Ernakulam Range, Thrissur Range, and Kannur Range. Kannur Range and Thrissur Range comes under North Zone, whereas Ernakulam Range and Thiruvananthapuram Range comes under South Zone.

### Police ranges

A police range consists several police districts under its jurisdiction. There are four police ranges: Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kannur. Each range is headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)

### Police Commissionerates

A police Commissionerate is a law enforcement body especially in the urban parts of the state. The Commissionerate is headed by a Commissioner of Police (CP). There are Six Commissionerate under Kerala Police for Urban Area policing.
Thiruvananthapuram City Police and Kochi City Police are headed by Commissioners of Police with the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), while the Kozhikode City Police is headed by the Commissioner of Police with the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). The remaining Kollam City Police, Thrissur City Police, and Kannur City Police are headed by Commissioners of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).
The Commissioners of Police in Thiruvananthapuram City, Kochi City, and Kozhikode City are assisted by Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) with the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP). Each DCP is in charge of Law and Order, Crimes, Traffic, and Administration. The DCPs are assisted by Additional DCPs and Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) with the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
* The Commissionerates of Thiruvananthapuram City and Kochi City do not fall under police zones, and their Commissioners report directly to the State Police Chief through the ADGP (Law and Order).
* Presently these Commissionerates are not vested with magisterial powers.

### Police districts

There are 20 police districts in total. Eight of these police districts are coterminous with the respective revenue districts, while the remaining 12 police districts are situated within revenue districts that are bifurcated into city and rural. Out of these 20 police districts, 14 are rural police districts, and 6 are city police districts (also known as police commissionerates).
Each police district is headed by a District Police Chief (DPC). The District Police Chief must be an officer holding the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) or higher. In specific districts such as Thiruvananthapuram City, Kochi City, and Kozhikode City, the role of District Police Chief (commonly referred to as the Police Commissioner) is filled by higher-ranking officers, specifically those with the ranks of Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), and remaining police districts are headed by officers holding the rank of Superintendent of Police. The DPC is assisted by an Additional Superintendent of Police, and Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs). Each district comprises two or more subdivisions, several police stations and other special units.
The special units are District Special Branch, District Crime Branch, District Crime Records Bureau, Narcotics Cell, and the Armed Reserve Camp. These units are headed by Deputy Superintendents of Police.

### Subdivisions

Each police district is divided into some subdivisions to supervise activities of several police stations under its jurisdiction. There are 91 police sub-divisions in Kerala. Each sub-division is headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) or an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in the case of city police sub-divisions.
The police officer in charge of a sub division is called Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO). DYSPs or ACPs are posted as SDPOs. A sub-division consists several Police Stations under its jurisdiction.

### Police Stations

A Subdivision is further divided into Police Station areas, each of which is under an Inspector of Police designated as Station House Officer (SHO).
A Police Station (PS) is the basic unit of policing, responsible for prevention and detection of crime, maintenance of public order, enforcing law in general as well as for performing protection duties and making security arrangements for the constitutional authorities, government functionaries, representatives of the public in different legislative bodies and local self governments, public figures etc. Kerala has 484 local police stations that handle routine law enforcement and investigations. In addition, there are 80 special police stations: coastal police stations manage coastal security, cybercrime police stations deal with cyber crimes, and women police stations handle crimes against women, such as domestic violence and harassment.
Inspectors in charge of police stations are known as Inspector SHOs (ISHO). In small police stations sub-inspectors are appointed as SHOs. At the police station level, there are typically two wings: the law and order and the crime investigation. These are headed by a sub-inspector of police (SIs) who oversees the respective functions of maintaining public order and conducting criminal investigations within the station's jurisdiction. The SHO is assisted by sub-inspectors of police, assistant sub-inspectors of police, senior civil police officers, and civil police officers. The section known as General Executive is working in the police stations of Kerala.

#### Police outposts

some police stations have outposts attached to them, which are typically headed by assistant sub-inspectors or senior civil police officers.

## Hierarchy
### Officers

* Director General of Police & State Police Chief (DGP & SPC)
* Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)
* Inspector General of Police (IG)
* Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
* Superintendent of Police (SP)
* Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl.SP)
* Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) [IPS]
* Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP) [KPS]

### Sub-ordinates

* Inspector of Police (IP)
* Sub-Inspector of Police (SI)
* Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI)
* Head constable/Senior Civil Police Officer (SCPO)
* Constable/Civil Police Officer (CPO)

## Ranks and insignia

Kerala Police IPS Cadre Insignia :
| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| Insignia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rank | Director General of Police | Director General of Police | Additional Director General of Police | Additional Director General of Police | Inspector General of Police | Inspector General of Police | Deputy Inspector General of Police | Deputy Inspector General of Police | Superintendent of Police (Selection Grade) | Superintendent of Police (Selection Grade) | Superintendent of Police (Selection Grade) | Superintendent of Police | Superintendent of Police | Additional superintendent of police | Additional superintendent of police | Assistant Superintendent of Police | Assistant Superintendent of Police | Assistant Superintendent of Police | Assistant Superintendent of Police | Assistant Superintendent of Police | Assistant Superintendent of Police | Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary Rank: 2 years of service) | Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary Rank: 2 years of service) | Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary Rank: 2 years of service) | Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary Rank: 2 years of service) | Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary Rank: 1 year of service) | Assistant Superintendent of Police (Probationary Rank: 1 year of service) |
| Abbreviation | DGP | DGP | ADGP | ADGP | IG | IG | DIG | DIG | SP (SG) | SP (SG) | SP (SG) | SP | SP | Addl. SP | Addl. SP | ASP | ASP | ASP | ASP | ASP | ASP | IPS Trainee | IPS Trainee | IPS Trainee | IPS Trainee | IPS Trainee | IPS Trainee |
| Note: Commissioner of Police is a post held by different rank officers in different places. For example, it is held by IG rank officers in Thiruvananthapuram City and Kochi City; by DIG rank officer in Kozhikode; by SP rank officers in Kollam City, Thrissur City, Kannur City etc. ||||||||||||||||||
Kerala Police Gazetted Officers Insignia :
| Insignia | | | | |
| Rank | Superintendent of Police | Addl. Superintendent of Police | Deputy Superintendent of Police | Inspector of Police |
| Abbreviation | SP | Addl.SP | DYSP | CI |
| Note: The rank of Inspector of Police is colloquially known as Circle Inspector (CI). Historically, the police circle office was overseen by an Inspector of Police with the designation of Circle Inspector. However, as of 2017, the specific post of Circle Inspector has been discontinued. |||||
Kerala Police Non Gazetted Officers Insignia
| Insignia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Rank | Sub Inspector of Police | Sub Inspector of Police | Assistant Sub Inspector | Assistant Sub Inspector | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Senior Civil Police Officer | Civil Police Officer | Civil Police Officer |
| Abbreviation | SI | SI | ASI | ASI | SCPO | SCPO | SCPO | SCPO | SCPO | SCPO | SCPO | SCPO | SCPO | SCPO | SCPO | SCPO | CPO | CPO |
Two Stars on blue background indicates IGP Rank.

## Crime Branch

The Crime Branch is the specialized investigation wing of the Kerala police. The Crime Branch has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram and headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP).
Crime Branch investigates cases that are entrusted to it by the State Police Chief or the Government or the High Court of Kerala. This department was earlier known as Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID).
Crime Branch is the Nodal agency for Interpol related matters in the State and conducts verifications or enquiries on behalf of Interpol.
Crime Branch is specialized in investigation of complex organized crimes, financial frauds, economic offences with huge ramifications, undetected or sensitive crime cases, cases with inter-state ramifications, etc.
The state crime branch includes special units like Economic Offences Wing, Organised Crime Wing, etc. The crime branch wing is divided into ranges and units. Each range is headed by an Inspector General of Police (IGP) and each unit is headed by a Superintendent of Police (SP). There are three ranges headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. There are 14 district units under Crime Branch. The Crime Branch also includes Deputy Superintendents of Police, Detective Inspectors, Detective Sub Inspectors, Detective Assistant Sub Inspectors, Senior Civil Police Officers, and Civil Police Officers.
Apart from this, the District Crime Branch (C-Branch) functions under the respective District Police Chiefs. District C-Branch is headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police. District C Branch acts as specialized investigating wing of the District Police Chief which is mandated to help in investigating sensational cases at the district level. The District Crime Branch is not subordinate to the State Crime Branch; instead, it operates under the Law and Order Wing of the state police.

## State Special Branch

The State Special Branch (SSB) is the intelligence wing of the Kerala police. The State Special Branch has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram and headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). The SSB currently operates four wings: 1) Intelligence 2). Internal Security 3) Security and 4) Administration. The following divisions operate under Internal Security: 1) Extremist Cell 2) A communal cell. 3) Organised Crime (IS), 4) Digital Surveillance Unit (DSU), and 5) Digital Security Data Bank. The Security Wing comprises the VVIP/VIP Security Team, the BDDS Wing, the Foreigners Wing, and the Passport & Verification Wing.
The ADGP, Intelligence is assisted by Inspectors General of Police, Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Superintendents of Police, Deputy Superintendents of Police, and subordinate officers. There are 4 Range offices, each headed by an SP, and 17 Detachments in districts led by DYSPs. In addition, Internal Security Wings operate in four Range offices under the supervision of DYSPs.
The State Special Branch (SSB) is primarily concerned with the collection, collation and dissemination of intelligence on and about various political, communal, terrorist, national security, and labour activities and with relation to various law and order issues like agitations, strikes, demonstrations, protests, etc. The SSB functions as the eyes and ears of the government.

## Armed police battalions

This wing is headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP APBn). There are eleven armed police battalions in the state, which serve as reserve forces to be deployed whenever and wherever district police fall short of manpower in the maintenance of law and order. Each battalion is headed by a Commandant of the rank of Superintendent of Police. Malabar Special Police is the oldest paramilitary force of India after Assam Rifles.

### Battalions

* Kerala Armed Police - KAP I (Tripunithura, Ernakulam)
* Kerala Armed Police - KAP II (Muttikulangara, Palakkad)
* Kerala Armed Police - KAP III (Adoor, Pathanamthitta)
* Kerala Armed Police - KAP IV (Mangattuparamba, Kannur)
* Kerala Armed Police - KAP V (Kuttikanam, Idukki)
* Kerala Armed Police - KAP VI (Valayam, Kozhikode)
* Malabar Special Police - MSP (Malappuram)
* Special Armed Police - SAP (Peroorkada, Thiruvananthapuram)
* Rapid Response and Rescue Force - RRRF (Pandikkad, Malappuram)
* India Reserve Battalion - IRBn (Ramavarmapuram, Thrissur)
* State Industrial Security Force - SISF (Peroorkada, Thiruvananthapuram)
* Armed Women Police Battalion - AWPBn (Kazhakkoottam, Thiruvananthapuram)

### Hierarchy of Armed Police

* Additional Director General of Police (APBn)
* Deputy Inspector General of Police (APBn)
* Commandant (equivalent to SP)
* Deputy Commandant (equivalent to rank of Addl.SP)
* Assistant Commandant (equivalent to rank of DySP)
* Armed Police Inspector (API)
* Armed Police Sub Inspector (APSI)
* Armed Police Asst. Sub Inspector (APASI)
* Havildar (Hdr.)
* Armed Police Constable (PC)

## Specialised units
### Tourism Police

Tourism Police wing has been functioning in the state for maintaining law and order, preventing attack and harassment on tourists. They also assist the tourists for getting tourist related information, guidance, etc. The uniform of Tourism Police Officers is sky blue shirt and khakee pants. International Tourism Police Station and Police Museum at Mattancherry in Ernakulam district is the first of its kind in the country which not only addresses grievances of tourists but also showcases the history of the Kerala Police. The primary aim of the station is to make the state of Kerala more tourist-friendly.

### Coastal Police

Coastal Police Stations handle the security of the coasts and carry out the patrolling in the sea up to 12 nautical miles. The cases reported on the sea (in the Territorial Waters) will be investigated by the Coastal Police. The headquarters of Kerala Coastal Police is situated at Kochi. The Kerala Coastal Police is headed by an Inspector General of Police (IGP). There 18 Coastal Police Stations across the coastal areas of Kerala. There are 18 Coastal Police Stations across the coastal areas of Kerala.

### Railway Police

The responsibility of the Kerala Railway Police is to maintain law and order, prevent and detect crime on the railways and railway stations in Kerala. The Kerala Railway Police is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of passengers and their belongings within the state's railway network. This includes preventing and detecting crimes both at railway stations and on trains. Their jurisdiction extends to the 1027 km of railway lines in Kerala. It is functioning incorporate with Railway Protection Force (RPF).
The Superintendent of Police (Railways) is the Unit Head and functions under supervision of A.D.G.P (Intelligence & Railways). There are 13 Railway Police Stations in Kerala. They are located in the main Railway station premises at Trivandrum Central, Parassala, Kollam, Punalur, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam Junction, Thrissur, Shornur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod.

### Highway Police

Highway Police focus on traffic enforcement to prevent road accidents and assist victims. At present. At present a total of 56 Highway Police Patrols are functioning along all the important Roads in Kerala.
Highway Police functions under the respective District Police Chiefs. Each Highway Police Vehicle is assigned an 'Operational area' and a Base Station. The Officers and men are deployed for duty in the Highway Police from various Police Stations in the Police District.

### Pink Police Patrol

The main objectives the territorial jurisdiction of the police district, previously sagainst women and children. As part of improving women safety in public places, Kerala Police has rolled out a special patrol team called pink patrol with all women police officers, patrolling across all the busy areas of the various cities of Kerala. The team has been allotted pink Maruti Suzuki sedan cars. The Pink patrol vehicles are fitted with GPS and other smart equipments for faster response and assistance as well as has on-board cameras and scanning systems to identify potential offenders.

### Narcotic Cell

Narcotic Cell collects intelligence on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) and pass it on to concerned police stations according to the gravity of cases. Monitoring and Supervising cases registered under NDPS Act is also done by this wing. Abkari raids are being conducted by Narcotic Cell on information. The District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) functions as the operational arm of the narcotic cells. District Narcotic Cell is functioning in all police districts, headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, and under supervision of District Police Chiefs.

### Women Cell

State Women Cell is headed by a Superintendent of Police. In addition, One District Women Cell is also functioning in all Police Districts, each headed by a Woman Inspector. The State Women Cell is functioning at the Police Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. The first Woman Police Station started at Kozhikode in 1973.

### Thunderbolts

Thunderbolts is the elite commando unit of Kerala Police. It performs perilous counter-terrorism, jungle-warfare, and hostage-rescue operations. Thunderbolts are a form of SPG and NSG, which are trained to take on air, water and land attacks.

### Special Operations Group (SOG)

The Special Operations Group (SOG) is an elite police unit of the Kerala Police, Primarily tasked with counter left-wing extremism operations, the SOG focuses on neutralizing Left-wing extremism, including Maoist activities. The SOG functions as a separate entity under the direct control of the State Police Chief, and is headed by a Superintendent of Police. The SOG primarily operates in districts with a history of Left-wing extremism, such as Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, etc.

## Recruitment

IPS officers are recruited through the Civil Service Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). They are also promoted from the State Police Service. The first posting of a direct recruit IPS officer is to the post of Assistant Superintendent of Police.
According to the Indian Police Service (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955, Kerala Police Service officers are eligible for promotion to the IPS after completing eight years of service. But in reality, officers are generally promoted to the IPS after two and a half decades of service. KPS or State Police Service officers are inducted into the IPS by promotion from the rank of Superintendent of Police (non-IPS). After completing two decades of service, KPS officers get promoted to the Indian Police Service, after confirmation by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India and the Union Public Service Commission. One-third of the total IPS strength in Kerala is reserved for KPS officers (SPS quota).
Unlike other state police forces, there is no direct recruitment for the Group A (gazetted) post of Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Kerala Police. Recruitment to the Kerala Police Service (Group-A) is by promotion from the rank of Inspector of Police.
Recruitment to the post of Sub Inspector of Police (Trainee) to the Kerala Civil Police Cadre is done through the competitive exam and departmental promotion tests conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission. Recruitment to the post of Sub Inspector (General Executive) is done through direct and indirect means in the ratio of 1:1.
Recruitment to the post of Civil Police Officer (constable) in the Kerala civil police cadre is done through a competitive exam conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission. Apart from this, the Kerala PSC conducts direct recruitment for various technical and special category posts like police constable (driver), armed police constable, police constable (commando wing), police constable (telecom), fingerprint expert, forensic expert, etc.

## Training

The training wing of state police is headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police (Training).

### Kerala Police Academy

The Kerala Police Academy is headed by the Director of the rank of Additional Director General of Police. The Director is assisted by Joint Directors, assistant directors, HODs, etc. The academy is situated at Thrissur. The academy will cater to the training needs of all officers of police department including IPS officers.

### Police Training College

The head of Police Training College is Principal in the rank of Superintendent of Police. It is situated in Thiruvananthapuram. The Basic Training and In-service courses are key Training programmes carried out in PTC. Apart from giving Basic Training, many In-Service Courses such as Refresher courses, Re-orientation courses, Familiarization courses, Cader courses are also being undertaken at PTC. Basic training for Excise Inspectors, Forest Officers are also now being conducted. Training of Probationary Officers is carried out in PTC.

## Ranks, designations, promotion, etc

The ranks in the Kerala Police range from Constable to DGP. See: Rank structure.

### Promotion

There is a regular line of promotion based on arising vacancies, contingent on factors such as seniority and eligibility.
The Government of Kerala has decided to give the rank of head constable (Senior Civil Police Officer) to constable (Civil Police Officer) who have completed 12 years of service in the civil police unit (local police). Senior Civil Police Officers who have completed 20 years of service will be given the rank of Assistant Sub Inspector (Grade), and Assistant Sub Inspectors who have completed 25 years of service will be given the rank of Sub Inspector of Police (Grade) or Grade SI. They will continue to carry the duties and responsibilities of the rank when they receive the honorary grade.
* Head constable (Senior Civil Police Officer) - 12yrs of service as constable (Civil Police Officer).
* Assistant Sub Inspector (Grade)- 20yrs of service as SCPO.
* Sub Inspector (Grade) - 25yrs of service as ASI.

### Designations

| Designation/Post | Abrv. | Rank | note; |
| State Police Chief | SPC | DGP | Head of the police department. |
| Additional Director General of Police | ADGP | ADGP | Head of a particular function/wing. e.g.:- Training, Intelligence, Law and Order, Crimes, SCRB, Armed Police Battalions, Headquarters etc. |
| Inspector General of Police | IGP | IG | Head of a police zone, or head of a division or unit within the department, Police Commissioners of Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. Zones: South Zone, North Zone |
| Deputy Inspector General of Police | DIG | DIG | Head of a police range, head of a unit within the branch or wing. Ranges: Thiruvananthapuramam Range, Ernakulam Range, Thrissur Range, Kannur Range. |
| Assistant Inspector General of Police | AIG | SP | AIG is a post equivalent in rank and status to the Superintendent of Police. Typically, AIG is in charge of administrative functions at police headquarters. |
| Commandant | Cmdt. | SP | The head of an armed police battalion or unit. The role involves commanding and overseeing the operations and administration of the armed police battalion. |
| District Police Chief | DPC | SP | Head of a police district: This position is held by IPS officers, and the role involves the administration, oversight, and command of the police force in a district. |
| Additional Superintendent Of Police, Administration | (Addl.SP, Admin) | Addl.SP | Officials in Additional SP Post were assigned to assist district police chief. This post is held by State Police Service (KPS) officers. |
| Sub Divisional Police Officer | SDPO | DySP/ASP | Officer in charge of a Police Subdivision. The Sub Division is headed by SDPO in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police [KPS] or Assistant Superintendent Of Police [IPS]. Supervision of the police stations under the subdivision. |
| Inspector Station House Officer | ISHO / IP SHO | Inspector of police | Officer incharge of a Police Station. Prior to 2017, the station house officer was an officer of the rank of sub inspector (SI). Since 2017 Circle Inspectors (CIs) take charge as station house officer. the nomenclature of Circle Inspector has been changed to Inspector/SHO or simply IP (Inspector of Police). |
| Sub Inspector (Grade)/ Assistant Sub Inspector (Grade)/Sr.Civil Police Officer (Grade). | GSI/GASI/GSCPO | - | This grade designation, however, is more of a nomenclature to be used in official records. Head Constables and ASIs can be promoted to Assistant Sub Inspector (Grade) and Sub Inspector (Grade) respectively after 15 and 25 years of service. This designation grants them the use of the corresponding rank's insignia and uniform, maintaining their existing duties and seniority and payscale. |
| Senior Civil Police Officer | SCPO | Head constable | In 2011, the Kerala Police started using the designation Senior Civil Police Officer (SCPO) for personnel holding the rank of head constable. Constable to sub-inspector ranking personnel now belongs to the Kerala Civil Police Subordinate Service (KCP). |
| Civil Police Officer | CPO | Constable | In 2011, the Kerala Police started using the designation Civil Police Officer (CPO) for personnel holding the rank of constable. Constable to sub-inspector ranking personnel now belongs to the Kerala Civil Police Subordinate Service (KCP). |

## List of former chiefs

| S.No | Name | Date of Assumption of Charge |
| Inspector General of Police |||
| 1 | Chandrasekaran Nair IPS | 1956 – 1957 |
| 2 | M. Krishna Menon IPS | 1957 – 1961 |
| 3 | K.N.R Sreenivasan Iyer IPS | 1959 |
| 4 | V.P Nair IPS | 1961 – 1964 |
| 5 | N. Rama Iyer IPS | 1964 – 1967 |
| 6 | M.Gopalan IPS | 1967 – 1972 |
| 7 | M. Singaravelu IPS | 1972 – 1974 |
| 8 | V.N Rajan IPS | 1974 – 1978 |
| 9 | V. Subramanian IPS | 1980 |
| Director General of Police |||
| 10 | T. Anantha Sankara Iyer IPS | 1978 — 1982 |
| 11 | P. Vijayan IPS | 1982 – 1983 |
| 12 | M.K. Joseph IPS | 1983 – 1988 |
| 13 | K. John Mathai IPS | 1989 |
| 14 | Raj Gopal Narayan IPS | 1988 – 1991 |
| 15 | A.V Venkatachalam IPS | 1991 |
| 16 | C. Subramaniam IPS | 1991 – 1993 |
| 17 | R.Jayaram Padikkal IPS | 1993 – 1994 |
| 18 | T.V Madhusudanan IPS | 1994 – 1995 |
| 19 | K.V Rajagopalan Nair IPS | 1995 – 1996 |
| 20 | R. Radhakrishanan IPS | 1996 – 1997 |
| 21 | M. Adbul Sathar Kunju IPS | 05-06-1997 to 30-06-1997 |
| 22 | C.A Chaly IPS | 30-06-1997 to 31-03-1998 |
| 23 | B.S Sasthri IPS | 31-03-1998 to 25-07-2000 |
| 24 | P.R Chandran IPS | 26-07-2000 to 31-05-2001 |
| 25 | R. Padmanabhan IPS | 31-05-2001 to 31-10-2001 |
| 26 | W. Joseph Dawson IPS | 31-10-2001 to 31-01-2002 |
| 27 | K.J Joseph I.P.S | 2000 to 2003 |
| 28 | P.K Hormese Tharakan I.P.S | 2003 to 2005 |
| 29 | Raman Srivastava I.P.S | 2005 to 2008 |
| State Police Chief |||
| 30 | Jacob Punnoose I.P.S | 2008 to 2012 |
| 31 | K.S Balasubramanian I.P.S | 2012 to 2015 |
| 32 | T.P Senkumar I.P.S | 01-06-2015 to 31-05-2016 |
| 33 | Lokanath Behera I.P.S | 01-06-2016 to 06-05-2017 |
| 34 | T. P. Senkumar I.P.S | 06-05-2017 to 30-06-2017 |
| 35 | Lokanath Behera I.P.S | 01-07-2017 to 30-06-2021 |
| 36 | Anil Kant I.P.S | 01-07-2021 to 30-06-2023 |
| 37 | Sheikh Darvesh Saheb I.P.S | incumbent |

## Achievements

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has termed Kerala Police as best in the country. In 2021 Kerala Police bagged the National e-Governance Award. Kerala Police has achieved several significant milestones over the years. Some of the notable achievements include:
       Women Police Stations: Kerala Police was the first in the country to establish women police stations, which exclusively deal with crimes against women.
       Cyberdome: Kerala Police established Cyberdome, a state-of-the-art facility for cyber security and cybercrime investigation.
       Janamaithri Suraksha: Kerala Police launched the Janamaithri Suraksha Project, a community policing initiative aimed at building a relationship of trust between the police and the public.
       Pink Patrol: Kerala Police launched Pink Patrol, a patrol team consisting of women police officers, to ensure the safety and security of women in public places.
* The Public Affairs Index selected Kerala as the best state in 2016 and 2017 considering its excellence in law and order.
* According to the grading conducted by Plan India for Women's Safety, Kerala ranks second in the country in terms of ensuring women's safety (Gender Vulnerability Index).
* Kollam City Police achieved ISO 9001 certification for excellence in office functioning and maintaining high levels of quality control in day-to-day activities in January 2018.
* Valapatnam Police Station has been selected as one of the top ten police stations in the country based on the inspection and study of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The handling of criminal cases, effective implementation of anti-drug activities and public involvement of the police helped the Valapatanam police station to achieve this achievement.
* COPS Today International, a journal published by the Foundation for Research, recently honored Kerala Police's Community Policing Program Janmaitri Police Project with the Police Excellence Award.

## Controversies

Kerala Police has also faced several controversies over the years. Some of the notable controversies include allegations of custodial deaths, where suspects died in police custody, fake encounter killings, where suspects were killed in fake encounters, and police brutality, where suspects were subjected to excessive force during arrest or interrogation.
There have been several allegations of irregularities and brutalities by Kerala Police officials. Kerala Police has been accused of failure in curbing violence and failure to act on intelligence reports.
The Kerala Police was criticized for its failure to control the event of 2014 Kiss of Love protest against moral policing. Police allowed counter-protesters—who included members of Shiv Sena, SDPI, and Bajrang Dal—to attack the protest. Although they attempted to physically stop the Kiss of Love protesters from legally protesting, none of the counter protesters were removed. Police later claimed that they arrested the Kiss of Love protesters to save the protesters' lives.