Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Kerala restores sub-inspectors as heads of regular police stations
The police in Kerala are changing who is in charge at most police stations.
Soon, a lower-ranking officer called a sub-inspector will run many everyday police stations.
A higher-ranking officer called an inspector will stay in charge at 63 important stations.
The Kerala government made this decision after a police committee studied the issue.
The change was announced on a Friday in August.
The government says this will make police work better and help people get their complaints addressed.
Sub-inspectors who become station heads will get two weeks of special training.
They will also get identification badges.
The new system will begin after at least two months so everyone can prepare.
No new jobs or extra money will be needed for this change.
The Kerala government approved making sub-inspectors heads of regular police stations, while retaining inspectors in 63 key stations.
The decision was based on a state police chief's proposal following a study by a committee headed by the Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters).
The inspector-led Station House Officer system was introduced in 196 police stations in 2017 and extended to another 268 stations in 2018.
About 203 surplus inspector posts will be redeployed to units including district crime branches, narcotic cells, the Anti-Terrorism Squad, the State Crime Branch and the VACB.
The new system will be implemented after at least two months, with sub-inspector SHOs undergoing a two-week refresher training and receiving identification badges.
- Who
- The Kerala government and the state police chief, acting on a study by a committee headed by the Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters).
- What
- Approved changes making sub-inspectors the heads (SHOs) of regular police stations, while retaining inspectors in 63 key stations.
- When
- Friday, August 14, 2026, through a Government Order issued by the Home Department.
- Where
- Kerala, India; the order was issued from Thiruvananthapuram.
- Why
- To improve policing efficiency, public grievance redressal, utilisation of inspector-level officers and investigation of serious crimes.
- State
- Kerala, India
- Decision
- Sub-inspectors to head regular police stations; inspectors retained in 63 key stations
- Date of order
- August 14, 2026
- Previous system
- Inspector-led SHOs introduced in 196 stations (2017), extended to 268 more (2018)
- Surplus inspectors redeployed
- 203 posts
- Stations to receive new SI posts
- 59
- Implementation timeline
- After at least two months
- SI-SHO training
- Two-week refresher programme with identification badges