Police revamp: inspectors to head four stations in Kochi city, rest to go to SIs

Only four police stations within the Kochi city limits are likely to be headed by inspector-ranked officers from August 15 as the State government is set to revert to the previous station management system.

Inspectors are likely to be reinstated as Station House Officers (SHOs) in Ernakulam Central, Thrikkakara, Palarivattom and Fort Kochi police stations, while the remaining 24 stations will have sub-inspectors (SIs) back at the helm, police sources said.

While Ernakulam Central and Thrikkakara stations fall within the subdivisions of the same names, Palarivattom and Fort Kochi are part of the Ernakulam and Mattancherry subdivisions respectively.

The four are among the 64 major stations with a higher number of case rate which will remain under inspectors in the State. As per the revised system, inspectors will be assigned to manage circles of two or three stations as in the structure prevailed earlier. As per the proposal under discussion, Kochi city will have 10 circles.

“The proposal is with the government, and a final order is yet to be issued. The inspectors who will be relieved of SHO duties will be redeployed to other units such as Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Crime Branch, Special Branch, District Crime Records Bureau, and Armed Reserve camps which require senior officers with investigative and administrative skills,” a city police officer said.

Within the Ernakulam rural limits, only Nedumbassery station is likely to remain under an inspector, while SIs will be reinstated as SHOs in 34 stations. Sixteen circles have been proposed in the rural jurisdiction, an officer said.

The police are, meanwhile, set to start an orientation programme for SIs who will be appointed as SHOs. The five-day training will start on Monday (July 20, 2026) at the training centre at Thripunithura, sources said.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had recently said that the earlier system of SIs assuming charge of police stations was being reintroduced as part of a set of measures to revamp the police force. The decision to revert SHO duties from inspectors to SIs was taken based on the report by an expert committee, the Minister said.

Inspectors were appointed SHOs since 2017 by then Left Democratic Front government as part of its reform bifurcating law and order and crime investigation divisions in the police.