The Uttar Pradesh Police (UP Police) is the primary law enforcement agency in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Below is a comprehensive overview of the UP Police based on available information:
Overview
- Established: 1863, as the Office of the Inspector General of Police, United Provinces, under the Police Act, 1861.
- Motto: “Suraksha Aapki, Sankal Hamara” (Your protection, our pledge).
- Jurisdiction: Uttar Pradesh, covering 243,286 km² with a population of approximately 199.8 million (2011 estimate).
- Headquarters: Uttar Pradesh Police Headquarters, Sector-7, Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow (previously in Prayagraj).
- Annual Budget: ₹37,398 crore (US$4.4 billion) for 2024–25.
- Size: Largest police force in the world, with about 68 district police departments (excluding 7 commissionerates) and around 1,368 gazetted officers (406 IPS officers and 963 PPS officers) and 231,443 non-gazetted officers.
- Governing Body: Department of Home and Confidential, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
- Agency Executive: Rajeev Krishna (acting), IPS, Director General of Police (DGP).
History
- The UP Police was formed following the Police Commission of 1860, led by Mr. H.M. Court, which resulted in the Police Act of 1861.
- Mr. Court was the first Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the North West Province and Avadh, which included present-day Uttar Pradesh.
- Post-independence, Mr. B.N. Lahiri became the first Indian IGP of UP.
- The UP Police was the first Indian police force to receive the President’s Color on November 23, 1952, presented by then-Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, recognizing its excellence in crime control and law enforcement.
- Over time, specialized wings were created to address organized crime, economic offences, terrorism, and more.
Organization and Structure
The UP Police operates under a hierarchical structure with the following key components:
Leadership
- Director General of Police (DGP): The highest-ranking IPS officer in the state, currently Rajeev Krishna (acting).
- The DGP is assisted by Additional Directors General (ADGs), Inspectors General (IGs), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), and other officers.
Administrative Divisions
- Zones: Uttar Pradesh is divided into 8 police zones, each headed by an ADG or IG (IPS officer). Examples include Lucknow, Agra, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur zones.
- Ranges: There are 18 police ranges, each led by an IG or DIG. Each range covers 2–4 districts.
- Districts: The state has 68 district police units (headed by SP/SSP) and 7 police commissionerates (headed by Commissioners of Police).
- District Police: Each district is led by a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) or Superintendent of Police (SP), an IPS officer, assisted by officers of the Provincial Police Service (PPS). The District Magistrate (IAS officer) holds ultimate responsibility for law and order.
- Commissionerates: Seven commissionerates (Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, Agra, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, and Varanasi) are led by Commissioners of Police (CP) of ADGP or IGP rank. For example:
Sub-Divisions
- Police Circles: Each district is divided into 2–4 police circles, headed by a Circle Officer (CO) of Deputy SP or Assistant SP rank.
- Police Stations: There are 2,015 police stations (as of September 2021), each led by a Station Officer (SO) or Station House Officer (SHO), typically a Police Inspector.
- Personnel: Includes Sub-Inspectors, Head Constables, and Constables for regular beat policing and patrolling.
Specialized Units
- UP-Highway Police (UPHP): First Indian state police agency with a dedicated highway patrol unit.
- Women & Child Security Organization: Focuses on offenses against women and children.
- Specialized Wings: Include Intelligence, Investigation, Anti-Corruption, Technical, Training, Criminology, and 33 armed battalions.
- Forensic Science Laboratory: Supports criminal investigations.
- UP State Institute of Forensic Sciences: Enhances forensic capabilities.
Citizen Services
The UP Police provides various online and offline services through platforms like the UP COP app and the official website (uppolice.gov.in). Key services include:
- e-FIR: Facility to file FIRs for cases with unknown accused (Helpline: 0522-2390261).
- Track FIR Status: Check the status of filed complaints.
- Lost Item Registration: Report lost articles.
- Road Accident Details: Access information on accidents.
- Verification Services: For passports, jobs, etc.
- Missing Persons: Information on missing persons, children, and unidentified bodies.
- Helplines:
Ranks and Hierarchy
The UP Police follows a strict rank structure:
- Director General of Police (DGP)
- Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)
- Inspector General of Police (IGP)
- Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
- Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)
- Superintendent of Police (SP)
- Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (in commissionerates)
- Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl. DCP)
- Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)
- Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)
- Inspector, Sub-Inspector, Head Constable, Constable
Facilities and Resources
- Police Stations: 2,015 across the state.
- Helicopters: 1.
- Dogs: 78 for detection and tracking.
- Technology: The CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems) portal enables online services like e-FIR, FIR tracking, and more.
- Mobile Apps: UP COP and Citizen Services App for public interaction.
Notable Achievements and Activities
- Crime Control: Since 2017, UP Police has conducted over 15,000 encounters, averaging five daily, resulting in 243 criminal deaths and over 31,000 arrests by August 2025.
- Cybercrime Initiatives: Collaboration with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to combat cybercrime, with warnings against sharing OTP, CVV, or bank details.
- Awards: Won a gold medal in the computer competition at the All India Police Duty Meet 2024-25.
- President’s Color: First Indian police force to receive this honor in 1952.
Recruitment and Welfare
- Recruitment: Managed by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment & Promotion Board (UPPRPB). Contact: sampark@uppbpb.gov.in, Phone: 0522-2235752, CUG: +91-9454404786.
- Welfare Schemes: Support for police personnel, including pension schemes and government orders for retired officials.
- Training: Specialized training programs to combat organized crime, terrorism, and other challenges.
Contact Details
How to Become a UP Police Officer
- Eligibility: Varies by rank (e.g., Constable, Sub-Inspector, SP). Typically requires educational qualifications (10th/12th/graduate), physical fitness, and passing competitive exams conducted by UPPRPB.
- Procedure: Apply through UPPRPB (uppbpb.gov.in), clear written exams, physical tests, and interviews.
- Salary: Varies by rank; Constables start at lower pay scales, while IPS officers (SP/SSP) receive higher salaries per government norms.
Public Interaction
- Filing Complaints: Visit a police station, use the UP COP app, or file an e-FIR for cases with unknown accused.
- Feedback: Available through the UP Police website or helplines.
- Tenders/Auctions: Information on vehicle auctions and equipment purchases is available on uppolice.gov.in.
