The Headquarters Force consists of staff sanctioned for various units of the unarmed branch located at Lalbazar. It includes the following sections:
Police Transport: The entire Kolkata Police transport system, including allotments to different divisions and departments, rests with this section, whose chief function is to look after the safety and proper upkeep of police vehicles, as well as their efficient utilisation for the mobilisation of the police force or any other official purpose.
Control Room: The Control Room is the nerve-centre of Kolkata Police, and was originally set up by Sir Fredrick Halliday, appointed Commissioner of Police in 1906. Information of any trouble or apprehension of trouble or information of any other kind requiring police intervention is received here and directions are issued to concerned units for proper and prompt action.
Telephones: Kolkata Police has its own Electronic Private Automatic Branch Exchange (EPABX) at Lalbazar for inter-communication between all police stations, departmental offices, divisional offices, and senior officers. This section is under the charge of an Inspector. The primary duty of this section is to ensure the maintenance and smooth functioning of all telephone lines.
Women Police Force: This section is headed by a Deputy Commissioner (DC), and its main functions are to assist in the arrest of women accused, and executing search warrants for the rescue of kidnapped/ abducted women and children; to assist in the enforcement of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act; to escort female and juvenile offenders; to guard female prisoners in hospitals and lock-ups; to investigate cases relating to crimes against women; to assist in maintaining law and order during demonstrations involving women; and other law and order duties. All police stations under Kolkata Police have been provided with women police personnel.
Mounted Police: The Kolkata Mounted Police was introduced in 1840 with only two sowars under a dafadar (head officer) to carry messages and inform the harbour master whenever any ship was sighted. In 1842, arrangements were made for mounted policemen to patrol the maidan area. Before 1905, the sowars were all Indians, but in order to accommodate five European constables, the strength of the mounted constables was reduced from 35 to 20.
At present, the Kolkata Mounted Police consists of one inspector, one sergeant-major, 12 sergeants, one JCO, five head sowars, 85 sowars and 98 syces, and is mainly deployed to regulate crowds on the Maidan during sporting events and fairs. The unit also participates in ceremonial parades and mounts guard at Raj Bhavan during VIP visits.