National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele will soon be referred to as "general", he said in Johannesburg on Thursday.

"It will not be a distant future when you will be speaking to 'general' rather than 'commissioner'," Cele said at a press briefing following the launch of a television programme to be used in the fight against crime.

Moves to change the ranks within the police force were underway after President Jacob Zuma made the call earlier this year.

"The process is underway... internally we are almost there."

Deputy national commissioners Hamilton Hlela and Maggie Stander were busy compiling the changes to the ranks and these would be submitted to Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa soon.

Stander, speaking to Sapa on the sidelines of the briefing said the ranks were "demilitarised" in 1995 and this had an impact on the SA Police Service.

The new ranks also formed part of a broader move to change the police from a "service" to a "force".

The need for this was highlighted by Zuma as he addressed commissioners of the country's police stations in Pretoria last month.

Stander said the changes would command more respect.

Hlela said the ranks would be constable, sergeant, warrant officer, lieutenant, captain, major, colonel and brigadier. They would also include major general, lieutenant general and general.