Kolkata Police

Kolkata Police Force
Emblem of Kolkata Police
Emblem of Kolkata Police
AbbreviationKP/KPF
Motto"Bhavatā Saha – Sarvadā" (Sanskrit: भवता सह – सर्वदा, English: "With You – Always")
Agency overview
Formed1856; 168 years ago (1856)
Annual budget$130 Million[1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionKolkata, West Bengal, India
Map
Kolkata Police Jurisdiction Area
Size204.77 sq mi (530.4 km2)
Population45,80,544 (within 200.71 km**)
Legal jurisdictionAs per operations jurisdiction
Governing bodyDepartment of Home and Hill Affairs
Constituting instrument
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters18, Lalbazar Street, Kolkata: 700001
Police officers37,400[2]
Police Commissioner responsible
Divisions
10
  • North and North Suburban Division
  • Central Division
  • Eastern Suburban Division
  • South Division
  • Port Division
  • South East Division
  • South Suburban Division
  • South West Division
  • East Division
  • Bhangar Division
Facilities
Police Stations91[4]
Cars & Bikes4000+[5]
Dogs39[6]
Website
www.kolkatapolice.gov.in Edit this at Wikidata

The Kolkata Police (IAST: Kolakātā Pulisa, officially Kolkata Police Force, formerly Calcutta Police Force till 2001) is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement and crime prevention within the metropolitan area of the city of Kolkata, West Bengal. It is one of the two primary police forces in West Bengal, the other being the West Bengal Police.

The main operational area covered by the Kolkata Police is the Kolkata Metropolitan Region, excluding the neighbouring cities of Howrah (covered by the Howrah City Police), Barrackpore (covered by the Barrackpore City Police), Chandannagar (covered by the Chandannagar City Police) and the neighbouring locality of New Town (covered by the Bidhannagar City Police)

The primary functions of the Kolkata Police Force are maintaining law and order in the city, traffic management, prevention and detection of crime and co-ordinating various citizen-centric services for the people of Kolkata. As of 2024, Kolkata Police has ten divisions covering 91 police stations. It has a strength of approximately 37,400 and a territorial jurisdiction of c. 530.34 km2 (204.77 sq mi). In addition to general policing, the Kolkata Police has several specialist branches and nine battalions of the Armed Police.

The Kolkata Police has often faced criticism from the public, with the force being commonly accused of being a puppet institution of the state government. It came into national spotlight following the 2024 Kolkata rape and murder, after which the force has constantly encountered accusations of being complicit in destruction of evidence.

  1. ^ "Detailed Demands For Grants For 2021–22" (PDF). 5 February 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. ^ "West Bengal Police". Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  3. ^ Saha, Rajesh (31 December 2021). "Vineet Kumar Goyal appointed new Kolkata Police commissioner". India Today 12:34 IST. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Kolkata to get eight more police stations | Kolkata News". The Times of India. 9 July 2014. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  5. ^ CHAUDHURI, MONALISA (14 September 2021). "E-vehicles to replace old police fleet in Kolkata". The Telegraph 07:13 AM. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  6. ^ Ghosh, Dwaipayan (21 July 2023). "Police keep new recruits of dog squad on standby". The Times of India Jul 21, 2023, 10:22 IST. Retrieved 21 July 2023.