A career as a police officer is considered as one of the most prestigious positions in the society.

Head Constable

Head Constables are mainly employed to be in charge of general duty in police stations, as station writer, as officer in charge. He acts as SHO in the absence of Sub-Inspector and Asst. Sub-Inspector. He is authorised to hold inquests and make investigation when asked by the Sub Inspector to do so.

Some major responsibilities of a Head Constable are:

• Visit villages in the station jurisdiction when deputed for a specific purpose and will work as HC in charge of a particular beat area.
• Attend to court work under the orders of SHO, and investigate cases when deputed by the SHO and to assist the IO in investigation.

 –  Conduct enquiries into petty complaints and take care of arrested persons kept in police station.

– Head Constable is normally assigned the duties of station writer.

• Performs the ministerial work of the station under the direction of SHO. In the absence of SI or ASI, he allocates urgent duties to the Constables and be in charge of station property including arms and ammunition and carry out the routine work of the station.

– He may also be employed by SHO to go on night rounds and may occasionally be kept in charge of beat area.

– He is also responsible to watch the arrested persons kept in police station and proper reception to persons visiting police station and also for answering telephone calls when SHO, SI, or ASI are not present in police station.

The head constables form the main strength of investigating team. They assist the team leader in the investigation of cases especially in preserving, and collecting the clues like finger prints, foot prints, materials, photograph etc. and also in collection of information, process service, pursuit of clues and arrest of accused and recovery of property, assisting in searches and seizures, surveillance of specially marked persons, holding inquests where directed, securing the presence of witnesses, perform, court duty to assist prosecutor when SI or Inspector are not able to be present, any other work connected with the investigation of crimes.

HC may be kept in charge of small and rural out post. The duty of out post in charge is to supervise the work of constables in his charge, see to the proper performance of all duties attached to the out post and maintain the prescribed records.

Constable

A Constable has maximum interface with public. As the most accessible person for public, he is expected to protect the needy, rescue people from danger, apprehend offenders and assist in securing prompt help and justice. Some of the important roles assigned to him are organizing and securing community participation, activising himself in prevention and detection of crime and maintenance of law and order. Another main role of the Constable is, performance of all tasks connected with beat area and there by help in prevention of offence and breach of peace. The constable on traffic duty has the task of regulating traffic.

The entire preventive work of the police depends on the efficiency, commitment, professionalism and integrity of the beat area policeman. The Constable allotted to a beat should realize that his participation in the community even in a small measure is essential for successful policing. Professionalism and integrity but not power and authority shall command respect and bring in a large measure of co-operation from general public.