SHO Full Form: Station House Officer
SHO Full Form is Station House Officer. SHO term refers to the police officer who is in charge of a police station or station house. This term is specific to India and Pakistan. In India, the ranking of an SHO is superior to SI or Sub Inspector and just below DSP or Deputy Superintendent of Police. The insignia or badge of this official has 3 stars and a ribbon with red and blue stripes towards the edge of the straps in the shoulders. According to Indian law, an SHO is allowed to investigate crimes, as per need.
A Police station is a place where the general public can go and register complaints, which sets in motion the law enforcement system in the country. It is that one place where people can register complaints regarding both civil and criminal issues and seek assistance from police. In order to ensure that the police station and its administration are working efficiently towards the welfare of the people within its jurisdiction, the State Government appoints a Station House Officer for such purposes. A Station House Officer is entrusted with some crucial duties that make it a key officer in the police department. Thus, here in this article, we shall discuss a few important things about Station House Officer.
SHO Full form in Police : Who is an SHO?
An SHO of a police station stands in the rank above of a Sub Inspector (abbreviated as SI) but below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (abbreviated as DSP). The rank insignia of SHOs is three stars, with a blue and red striped ribbon placed at the outer edge on the shoulder straps.
What kind of powers can an SHO exercise?
This is a fundamental question that can be better answered with reference to the law. An SHO is a police officer and is empowered to exercise powers enumerated under Chapter XII of the principal criminal procedural law of the country, the Criminal Procedure Code 1973. Such powers also cover powers relating to the submission of the charge sheet provided under section 173 of the 1973 Code. The Code also vests those police officers above the rank of an SHO with powers similar to that of an SHO. This shows that SHO is key in the conduct of the investigation in the matters complained of.