Superintendent (Supt) is a rank in the British police and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries, the full version is superintendent of police (SP). The rank is also used in most British Overseas Territories, in many former British colonies, as well as in Portugal and in several former Portuguese colonies. In some countries, such as Italy, the rank of superintendent is a lower rank.

In Australia, the rank of superintendent is the next senior rank from chief Inspector and is less senior than a chief superintendent (Victoria Police, South Australia Police, New South Wales Police, Queensland Police) or an assistant commissioner (Western Australia Police). Some officers also hold the rank of detective chief superintendent (though this is seldom used) and detective superintendent. Superintendents wear an epaulette bearing one pip below a crown, the same rank badge as a lieutenant-colonel and wear police caps with a laurel wreath across the brim to indicate seniority.

In Bangladesh, the rank of superintendent of police (SP) is the next rank above additional superintendent of police (ASP) and below additional deputy inspector-general of police (Addl.DIG). In metropolitan units, a superintendent is called a deputy police commissioner. In Special Branch, they are known as special superintendent of police.

In Canada, the rank of superintendent is usually the next senior rank up from inspector. Some police forces^{[example needed]} also have the higher rank of staff superintendent (senior staff superintendent) or regional superintendent. Quebec-based police forces (e.g. Sureté du Québec, Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, Quebec City Police Service) do not use this rank or rank structure.

Hong Kong Police Force ranks are based on the British system:

In India, a superintendent of police (SP) heads the police force of a police district or is in charge of a rural area in a district. Their rank badge is the state emblem one star. The rank below it is additional superintendent of police (Addl.SP) or deputy superintendent of police (Dy.SP), while the rank above it is senior superintendent of police (SSP). In the state of Kerala, superintendents of police in charge of districts are called District Police Chiefs.

In the Republic of Ireland the rank of superintendent is between inspector and chief superintendent. There are usually two or three assigned to each division. Detectives use the "detective" prefix. There were 178 superintendents in the Garda Síochána at the beginning of 2006. In the Irish language, a Garda superintendent is a ceannfort, which translates literally as "headman". Ard-Cheannfort is a chief superintendent or "high headman". Ceannfort is also used for the military rank of "commandant", equivalent to major.

Each police district is commanded by a superintendent. Districts are sub-units of divisions, which are commanded by chief superintendents.