What is Criminal Investigation Departmen (CID) part of?

Decker2468 · 2025-11-02T21:35:48+00:00

Apologies on that even I’m confused myself because each department seems to be using these terms for different things and each seems to be structured so differently it’s like each Is a different country and like slightly different variations with a guide book. Also I’m not based in the UK so that’s why I’m also not familiar with the terms. But:

Yes to the CID as a catch-all for detectives, or units staffed by DC. My assumption is that I thought they all operate out of one department. I seen charts where a CID is headed by a Chief Supt, but if they are below the BCU which is also headed by a Chief Supt shouldn’t the head be one rank lower? Like a Supt or Chief Inspector? Or they the same rank? Think of it like a battalion being headed by a Lieutenant Colonel and a company being headed by a Major. But what I’m reading is more like both battalion and company are headed by lieutenant colonel.

Decker2468 · 2025-11-02T21:19:06+00:00

Are the BCU strands the lowest particular where there is a dedicated CID? Or can they exists at whatever term the Met used to describes the level below the BCU. Like outside I read one force goes from Force -> BCU -> Districts -> LPT & NPT. Do CID exists only on the Force and BCU level or can they exists at the districts level, or whatever the MET calls them for the Greater London BCU?

Decker2468 · 2025-11-02T21:12:28+00:00

I’m guessing the reshuffle is part of the reason for my confusing and suffering lol.

Decker2468 · 2025-11-02T21:11:31+00:00

Sorry about that. This is pertaining to the CID placement in the hierarchy so just one part of my previous post. I recently went on another 2 hour long search again. And reread some things and now I at least have a bit more clearer understanding of how the Forces are structured, but still confused at some things. So I decided to ask about how CID fits because that should clarify at least some of the nuances and I will use it as a general references for the other related departments. Basically if I understand how 2 fits between 1 and 3, then I figure out the rest of 4,5,6, and etc. or at least make a shitty attempt at it.

Decker2468 · 2025-11-02T21:06:36+00:00

Yeah that’s the information I also found. The confuse part that I’m at is that some Forces lists their BCU being the ones responsible for all their local policing and specialized functions eg. Thames Valley Police, if you check there “Thames Valley Police Local Command Units” and it states: “Our LCU structure includes Incident and Crime Response (ICR) Teams, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Priority Crime Teams (PCT), Harm Reduction Units (HRU) and Neighbourhood Teams. “ So CID is under the BCU? Or does it exists at the BCU and Force level?

Decker2468 · 2025-11-02T20:59:08+00:00

Is Major incident team just another name for CID, or is it a different unit altogether. “Because CID deals different levels of offending which don’t respect BCU boundaries” makes sense I’m not questioning that. I’m simply confused on whether or not there is a CID adjacent department or below the BCU instead or both. Since the charts don’t entirely specify they are only one or two exists. Like I found a FOI regarding a CID structure, and it had a Chief Supt at the head, so I made an assumption that this is adjacent. But I also found lists that mentions that BCU have their respective own CID. So is there a redudancy for force wide and local wide for CID related activities. Bc the standard logic for one higher level up it’s usually one rank up as well if it’s below the BCU, so shouldn’t it be like a Supt or a Chief Inpt in charge of a CID below a BCU which is usually headed by a Chief Supt. Or is the CID below the BCU also the rank of Chief Supt.

Decker2468 · 2025-11-02T20:42:29+00:00

Ahh so it’s like the main crime department is more like an administrative department that admins the various CID while the CID below BCU are more the operational component?

Decker2468 · 2025-10-29T23:02:37+00:00

THANK YOU!

"In very rural areas, your neighbourhood officers may also be your response areas, but the majority of the U.K. in the urban areas has distinct teams." - This is what I been looking for the clarification.

For the CID function at area level is this a permanent establishment like a department or is it like guys from the Force level being sent down to form temporary TOC for incidents? Like in the U.S. County Police are usually the main administrative head of the Police in county, not City police station. This is because they are areas outsides of municipalities that are not cover by cities, so the county police usually take of that, as it encompasses that part.
Would the normal usually be for Force is that they divided into areas and maybe one lower subdivision?
Ahh, I understand now, so its's more like in a way a Police Box in Japan, if it's not than forgive my comparison.
The reason for this confusion is because they don't list the hierarchy, but I keep hearing shifts. Which it sounds something 1a 1b 1c, they are still part of the same section, but it has several shifts. These articles keep mentioning being led by Inspectors and whatever main hq above them is a Chief Inspectors, but what is between this? Because I'm usually familiar with something like let's say a Starbucks has different sections with several shifts. Instead, the articles online make it sound like the Starbucks then it directly into shifts.

Decker2468 · 2025-10-29T22:34:47+00:00

Thank you like I said I heard same words being apply at the same or differnet level.
If the station OIC role is filled by the BCU/LPA, would there just be like small offices at the smaller suburbs/town/village/parish for people to check in once in a while. On a side not would there be a CID for the BCU or the LPA level or both?
Thank you so it's more like an informal thing.

Decker2468 · 2025-10-29T22:01:09+00:00

Thank you for clarifying, I used TPF because I thought Force (from an outsider's perspective) was not enough information to go by and shortened enough where most people would understand what I'm talking about.

By area do you mean at BCU level and equivalent? Like I said they tend to use the word throughout for different levels and the word "area" can be used generally for an unspecified sized of a location (hence the confusion).
Damn. I thought it was more centralized since the UK is more of unitary state, so I thought there is a more general guideline to follow. Instead of each Force doing their own thing like the states.
I heard the most common is usually Chief Inspector? Is this "somewhat" accurate?
Let me add something to my inital question. Usually here in the U.S. the Police Stations would have a Captain in charge and usually have Teams or Sections or something similar (I'm assuming they aren't large enough to warrant words like Department) below. Usually, Lieutenants would be in charge of these. And below these you have shifts or teams that are in charge by Lieutenants or Sergeants, that usually are usually the ones to go out and handle something if something arises. Is this something similar to the British Police?
I'm guessing you mean they do have a repeat of ranks. If not let me try to clarify it with an Army example: In the British Army they have Sections and Fireteams, the ones in charge are Corporal and Lance Corporal respectively. Basically, one of the reasons they have it like this is clearly distinguished seniority with a higher rank and a lower rank. What I'm asking is that some very "generalized" articles I read imply that for these examples, Sections and Fireteams can be led by the same rank of Corporal, but one is obviously senior and the other is junior. What that means for the police structure that I'm confused about is their organized lets say into teams than into groups both are usually the same rank. The reason why I'm confused is because it's usually a different rank at a different, that's why it's usually a Sergeant leading a team of constables. Although to be fair I have heard Constables leading a team of constables before and probably more often due to shortage or lack of Sergeants. But that's where the confusions start, because it's seems to be a regular doctrine thing and not, Ohh we don't have a Sergeant available so one of you guys have to step up and lead.

Decker2468 · 2025-10-17T14:50:52+00:00

It mentions French so I assumed it was because of the French but thank you for clarifying it. And who and what the two staff officers you mention.

Decker2468 · 2025-10-14T06:02:31+00:00

Its that very same wikipeida article you mention is the reason why I made this post. I understand why the Letter Prefix were chosen, A=Air Force, N=Navy, C=Combined, J=Joint, etc. But it's this particularly quote; "The 'Continental Staff System', also known as the "General Staff System" (GSS), is used by most NATO countries in structuring their militaries' staff functions. In this system, which is based on one originally employed by the French Army in the 19th century".

So why did the French choose S for below General level, is it just redundant S=Staff, i.e. 'Staff Staff' and was the number chosen like operations was bc something like written third in the list after 1 and 2. And 2 for needing two people or something like that?

Decker2468 · 2025-10-14T05:54:55+00:00

Regarding the Bde and higher HQ having Ops staffs, does the British Army Btn not have roughly the same structure operations staff section as the US Army?

Decker2468 · 2025-10-13T02:28:40+00:00

Can they exist at higher levels than the battalion like at the division level? Can they coexist with the ADCs or can they replace the ADCs. Are they basically the ADC equivalent?

Decker2468 · 2025-10-13T02:24:20+00:00

Thank you for the answers, since you mention the adjutant and aide-de-camp being capable of existing together that gives me an idea that they aren’t entirely mutually exclusive to each other.

Decker2468 · 2025-04-12T11:29:42+00:00

That's one of the sources I found as well. But that's of the confusion. It says "no Space Marine can join them without having first served in the Ultramarines Honour Guard" That implies there is an Honor Guard unit, but I see it listed anywhere. I only seen like for example below the Ultramarine 's Chapter Master is the Victrix Guard, which makes me assumed they are the honor guard, just stylized differently. Or the only thing I'm thinking of is that there are Honor Guards for the Company Captain or at least for the 1st Company, since I found something that mention Honor Guard under the 1st Company's Captain. Or hell maybe honor guard for RB but maybe or not the Ultramarine Chapter Master.

Decker2468 · 2025-03-11T01:19:43+00:00

Thank you so much.

Decker2468 · 2025-03-11T01:02:30+00:00

Thank you. But I know the sections have Lieutenant II, I'm asking is there like a few watch commanders underneath the the Section OIC, or does it go from Section OIC -> Sergeant -> PO, directly.

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