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"Metropolitan Police" and "Metropolitan Police Force" redirect here. For other uses, see Metropolitan police.
Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Force
Common name The Met
Abbreviation MPS
Logo of the Metropolitan Police Service.
Flag of the Metropolitan Police Service.
Motto Working together for a safer London
Mission statement Making London safe for all the people we serve1
Agency Overview
Formed September 29, 1829
Preceding agencies
Employees 50,000
Volunteers 7972
Annual Budget £3.5bn3
Legal personality Governmental agency
Jurisdictional Structure
Divisional agency
(Operations jurisdiction)		 Police area of Metropolitan Police District in the country of England , UK
Map of police area
Size 1,578 km² (609 sq mi)
Population 7.4 million
Legal jurisdiction England & Wales (Northern Ireland and Scotland in limited circumstances)
Governing body Metropolitan Police Authority
Constituting instruments
General nature
Operational Structure
Headquarters New Scotland Yard
Police Constables 31,073
Police Community Support Officers 4,000
Agency executive Sir Paul Stephenson QPM, Acting Commissioner4
Borough Operational Command Units 32
Facilities
Stations 180
Boats 22
Helicopters 3
Dogs 250
Website
Official website

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within Greater London, excluding the City of London which is the responsibility of a separate force5.

A number of informal names and abbreviations exist for the MPS, such as "the Met" and "MP"; in statutes it is usually described in lower case as the "metropolitan police" without the appendage "Service". The Met is also referred to as Scotland Yard after the location of its original headquarters,6785 although the headquarters were transferred to New Scotland Yard in Westminster during the late 1960s9. Administrative functions are increasingly based at the Empress State Building (ESB), and since the end of 2007 all command and control functions have been transferred to the three Metcall complexes.

With over 31,000 Police Officers, 2,000 Special Constables, 13,661 police staff, 414 traffic wardens and 2,106 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)10, the MPS is the largest police service in the United Kingdom.11 The head of the service, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, known commonly as Commissioner, is responsible to the Metropolitan Police Authority. The post was first held jointly by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Rowan and Sir Richard Mayne. The Commissioner since 2005, Sir Ian Blair, QPM officially left the post on 1 December 2008. While a successor is found Sir Paul Stephenson, QPM has taken on the role of Acting Commissioner.12

Contents

History

Policing in London before 1829

Before the creation of the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829, law enforcement of the general population was maintained by Volunteer Constables and "Watchmen". In extreme cases such as public disorder, the armed forces were deployed13. Due to crime rates rising, and the current system of policing lacking criminal investigation capabilities, novelist Henry Fielding who was appointed Magistrate in 1748 introduced the first detective force known as the Bow Street Runners. His house at 4 Bow Street was established as a courtroom in 1739 by the previous owner, Sir Thomas de Veil.

Fielding's detective force, known as the Bow Street Runners was made up of eight Constables, who had the power to enforce the decisions of the Magistrates, along with investigating crime handed over to them by the Watchmen or volunteer Constables. Runners were identified by carrying a tipstaff with the Royal Crown on it, which had a compartment inside to store the official papers which entitled them to carry out such actions; this was the first recorded form of official identification.citation needed In 1754, a Bow Street Foot and Horse Patrol was established, which was the first form of uniformed policing seen in the capital, the patrol later amalgamated into the Metropolitan Police in 1839. The Bow Street Runners were similar to their unofficial counterpart the "thief takers" who earned a living from pursuing offenders, being employed by fee-paying members of the public and, in the case of notorious offenders, receiving rewards offered by the courts.14

By 1798 salaried Constables were being paid by local magistrates, and during the same year Marine Police Force was established, initially a private body based in Wapping primarily to police the docks and prevent the theft of cargo. Its success in deterring theft on the docks led to the passing of the Marine Police Bill, which made it the first permanent and publicly funded preventive police force in the history of English policing. This force later amalgamated with the Metropolitan Police to form its modern day version, Thames Division, which still patrols the river15.

The New Police

Due to law enforcement lacking organisation and efficiency, it was a source of public controversy. Because of this, a Parliamentary committee was appointed to investigate the current system of policing in the capital. When Sir Robert Peel was appointed as Home Secretary in 1822, he set up a more effective committee, and acted upon its findings. Peel, believing that the way to standardise the police was to make it an official, paid profession. Along with it being organised in a civilian fashion, answerable to the public. After presenting his ideas to Parliament, it was approved and made official with the Metropolitan Police Act of 182916.

During the early 19th century, the Industrial Revolution saw London become much larger both geographically and economically.17 It became clear that the locally maintained system of volunteer Constables and Watchmen was ineffective, both in the detection and prevention of crime. Because of this, Royal Assent was given to the Metropolitan Police Act on 19 June 182918. This act placed policing of the capital, directly under control of Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel18.

Due to public fears concerning the deployment of the military in domestic matters, the force was civilian rather than Paramilitary. To further enforce this, the uniform was carefully modelled. To appear neutral, it was deliberately manufactured in blue, rather than red which was then a military colour, along with the officers being unarmed apart from a Truncheon, and a rattle to call for assistance19. Military ranks were not used, with the exception of Sergeant.

Despite the service being unarmed, the then Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel gave authorisation to the Commissioner to purchase fifty flintlock pistols. The firearms were distributed among divisions, with strict rules regarding their use, which was usually for exceptional incidents where firearms were believed to be involved. As time progressed, the obsolete flintlocks were decommissioned from service, being superseded by early revolvers. At the time, burglary (or "house breaking" as it was then called) was a common problem for police, and "house breakers" were usually armed, as it was legal to own a pistol for self-defence, at that time. Because of many deaths of officers in the hands of firearms in the outer districts of the Metropolis, and after much press coverage debating whether Peel's service should be fully armed, the Commissioner applied to the Home Secretary to supply all officers on the outer districts with revolvers. These could only be issued if, in the opinion of the senior officer, the officer could be trusted to use it safely, and with discretion. From that point, officers who felt the need to be armed, could be so. The practice lasted until 1936, although the vast majority of the system was phased out by the end of the 19th century.

The original headquarters was located at the seat of Government at 4 Whitehall Place, with a back entrance on Scotland Yard. This latter name soon became established within the public, as a name for the service5. It was the third official non-paramilitary city police force in the world, after the City of Glasgow Police and the Paris Police.

Two MPS officers and a Community Support Officer near Buckingham Palace

The original standard wage for a Constable was one guinea (£1.05) a week. Recruitment criteria required applicants to be under the age of 35, in good health, and to be at least 5 ft 7 in (1.7m). Shifts lasted 12 hours, 6 days a week, with Sunday as the rest day. Officers were issued with blue-swallow tail coats, along with stove-pipe hats, and boots, but until 1897 they did not receive a boot allowance.

From the Metropolitan Police's foundation, the service had relied on the use of hand rattles for officers to call for assistance. In 1884 the Home Secretary invited competition from many companies to invent a "police whistle" to replace the rattle. J.Hudson & Company of Birmingham were awarded the contract for 7,175 whistles at the price of 11d each. At the same time, a competition for the contract to supply the Metropolitan Police with new truncheons was under way. This contract was won by Ross & Company, who supplied the Metropolitan Police with Lignum Vitae truncheons. In 1886, during a riot between warring working parties in Hyde Park, many truncheons were damaged or broken, and samples were sent off to be tested by the Royal Army Clothing Department, at a cost of 16 shillings per day. In October 1886, 900 pounds worth of Lance and Cocuswood were purchased, to use in place of Lignum Vitae.

Since the MPS's inception, the force has been headed by a Commissioner, rather than a Chief Constable which is the head of police forces outside of London. The first Commissioners to hold the post were Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Rowan and Sir Richard Mayne. When Sir Charles Rowan died, leaving Sir Richard Mayne as the surviving Commissioner, Captain William Hay was drafted in to jointly run the service with Mayne. However, because the two Commissioners did not get on, since 1855 it was decided that only one Commissioner would run the service.

The Metropolitan Police 1829-2008

Metropolitan Police patrols took to the streets on 29 September 1829, despite resistance from certain elements of the community, who saw them to be a threat to 'civil liberties'20. The initial force consisted of; two Commissioners, eight Superintendents, 20 Inspectors, 88 Sergeants and 895 Constables21. Patrolling the streets within a seven-mile (11 km) radius of Charing Cross, in order to prevent crime and pursue offenders22. Between 1829 and 1830, 17 local divisions each with their own police station were established, each lettered A to V, giving each London borough with a designated letter23. The following year, on 28 June 1830, Constable Joseph Grantham became the first member of the force to be killed in the line of duty, an incident described by the Coroner's Inquest as "justifiable homicide"24. Other indications of the Constabulary's unpopularity of the time, were such nicknames as 'Raw Lobsters', 'Blue Devils' and 'Peel's Bloody Gang'. Officers were physically assaulted, and in some cases impaled, blinded, and on one occasion held down while a vehicle was driven over them.

In 1833, during the Coldbath Fields Riot near Gray's Inn Road, which involved a riot between factory workers and police25, Constable Robert Culley was the second officer to be killed in the line of duty. The Jury returned a verdict of "Justifiable Homicide", as they did with Constable Joseph Grantham's murder in 1830.

One of the priorities of the police force from the beginning was "maintaining public order", and they were very active in the role, against the major Chartist demonstrations (1839-48) and the Bloody Sunday demonstration of the unemployed in Trafalgar Square in 188726.

In 1839, the Bow Street Runners, the Foot and Horse Patrol and the Thames River Police were amalgamated with the Metropolitan Police. However the City of London Police, created in the same year was an independent force. In 1842 taking over a function formerly the responsibility of the Runners, a new investigative force was formed as the "Detective Branch". And first consisted of; two Inspectors, six Sergeants and a number of Constables27.

One of the first cases investigated by the newly formed Detective Branch was "The Bermondsey Horror" of 1849, in which a married couple, Frederick and Marie Manning, murdered an acquaintance, Patrick O'Connor and buried his body under the kitchen floor. After going on the run they were tracked down by Detective Sergeants Thornton and Langley and publicly hanged outside Horsemonger Gaol in Southwark.28

After Rowan's death in 1852, Mayne presided as sole Commissioner. In 1857 he was paid a salary of £1,883, and his two Assistant Commissioners were paid salaries £800 each.29

It took some time to establish the standards of discipline expected today from a police force. In 1863, 215 officers were arrested for being intoxicated while on duty30, In 1872 there was a police strike, and during 1877 three high ranking detectives were tried for corruption at the Old Bailey31.Due to this latter scandal the Detective Department was re-organised in 1878 by C. E. Howard Vincent, and renamed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). This was separated from the uniformed branch and its head had direct access to the Home Secretary, by-passing the Commissioner.27

Flag of the Metropolitan Police

Special Constables were first introduced by the Special Constables Act 1831, empowering Magistrates to appoint ordinary citizens as temporary police officers in times of emergency32. In 1834, the Act was extended to allow citizens appointed as Specials to act outside of their Parish area33. In 1848, 150,000 Specials had been sworn in, to assist the MPS in preventing Chartists from reaching Kennington, and then marching to Westminster34. In 1912, the Specials were re-organised, scrapping the old system of anyone being liable to be appointed, instead they had to volunteer35. And in 1934, it was named the Metropolitan Special Constabulary, a name which it keeps today in its present form36. After the MSC was formed in 1934, for a short period of time after that, Specials did not receive uniforms like that of a full-time police officer. Instead, they were issued with armbands which identified them as Special Constables, along with being issued a baton.

The threat of Irish terrorism was combated by the formation of the Special Irish Branch, in March 1883. The "Irish" sobriquet was dropped in 1888 as the department remit was extended to cover other threats, and became known simply as Special Branch3738.

Important criminal investigations of the period included the Whitechapel Murders (1888-91) and the Cleveland Street Scandal (1899)39.

By 1900 the force had grown to nearly 16,000 officers, organised into 21 divisions. Responsible for law enforcement within an area of nearly 700 square miles27.

Detection of crimes was much improved when Edward Henry, the Commissioner from 1903-18, set up a Fingerprint Bureau at Scotland Yard in 190140 . A landmark case, for the Met, in such forensic investigation was the Stratton Brothers case of 1905, concerning a double murder in Deptford, committed by Alfred and Albert Stratton, in which, for the first time, fingerprint evidence secured the conviction.41 Another important investigation of this period was that into the murderer Hawley Harvey Crippen in 191040.

Female police officers first joined the Metropolitan Police during the First World War, to fill the posts left by men drafted into the armed forces. They were distinguished from their male counterparts, who had wider authority, by the prefix 'woman' before their rank. Such as "Woman Police Constable"(WPC) and "Woman Police Sergeant" (WPS). Initial duties of female police officers, included patrolling areas frequented by prostitutes, along with care and observation of female and juvenile detainees. Female officers were usually seconded to CID, however, the first Woman Detective Constable was not appointed until 1973. They were given six-day, 48-hour work weeks, and were not allowed to work night shifts apart from when on-call duties, until 1973. Also, female officers were not allowed to carry handcuffs unless instructed to by a senior officer42.

After staying stable for decades, crime rates in London soared during and after the Second World War, posing a new challenge to police. The chaotic conditions of a City under aerial attack prompted much opportunist crime and looting, and a thriving black market in rationed goods and the provision of prostitutes for demoblised soldiers. This also fueled the activities of criminal gangs who continued and expanded their activities after the war. By 1948 the numbers of recorded crimes in London had risen tenfold from the 1920s, to more than 126,000. By 1959 they had reached 160,00043

On the night of 2 November 1952, Derek Bentley and Christopher Craig set out to break into the confectionery manufacturers, Barlow & Parker in Croydon. Bentley and Craig were spotted climbing up a drain pipe to gain access to the roof by a member of the public, who called the police. The first officer to arrive on scene was Detective Sergeant Frederick Fairfax, by this time both Bentley and Craig had hidden behind the lift shaft. DS Fairfax gained entry to the roof and apprehended Bentley, but while doing so was shot in the shoulder by Craig. Upon armed uniformed officers arriving, Constable Sidney Miles was shot dead by Craig. After trial, Bentley was sentenced to death and Craig to be remanded at "Her Majesty's Pleasure". For DS Fairfax's role in the incident, he received a George Cross, as did Constables Norman Harrison and James McDonald. Constable Robert Jaggs was awarded the British Empire Medal, with Sidney Miles awarded a posthumous Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry.

During the 1950s, and 60s, London was subject to many protests by organisations. On more than one occasion, police clashed with violent protesters, making newspaper headlines. The need for a public order trained police unit was realised, and in 1965 the Special Patrol Group was formed. The Officers attached to the SPG, received higher training in public order policing, than divisional counterparts. The group often received controversy, and accusations of "police brutality". Possibly the most well known of the "police brutality" cases, was the Murder of Blair Peach. In 1986, the SPG was preceded by the Territorial Support Group which did much of the same role, but was a modernised form.

The current uniform for MPS officers is largely the same as forces outside London, apart from insignia differences. Officers on patrol are most likely to carry on the duty belt; extendable/rigid baton, Airwave personal radio, CS/PAVA Incapacitant Spray, Speedcuffs and leg or arm restraints, and may, or may not depending on duties carry a first aid kit or a torch.

The force continued to be controlled directly by the Home Secretary until 2000, when the newly created Greater London Authority was given responsibility to oversee the force, through the Metropolitan Police Authority. The MPA is made up of members appointed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly, and several independent members. However, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner is still appointed by the Home Secretary44.

Area covered and other forces

A British Transport Police motorcycle in London

The geographical area policed by the MPS, is known as the Metropolitan Police District. The MPD is made up of the 32 London boroughs,45 that fall under Greater London, excluding the City of London. There are 34 Borough Operational Command Units - one for each borough, one for Heathrow Airport and one for the Royal Parks.46

Before 1 April 2000, the MPD covered a larger area, established well before the current borders of Greater London were set. It included parts of Surrey, Hertfordshire and Essex, all of Epsom and Ewell, Hertsmere and Spelthorne districts, Banstead, Cheshunt, Chigwell, Loughton, Esher, Northaw and Cuffley and Waltham Abbey.

Law enforcement within the square mile City of London, is the responsibility of the City of London Police, a separate force, and one of the smallest in the UK47.

The Ministry of Defence Police are responsible for law enforcement on Ministry of Defence property throughout the United Kingdom, including the MOD headquarters in Whitehall and other MoD establishments across the MPS district.48.

The British Transport Police is responsible for law enforcement of the rail network in the United Kingdom, including London. Within London, they are responsible for policing of the London Underground, Tramlink and the Docklands Light Railway49.

The English part of the Royal Parks Constabulary, which patrolled a number of Greater London's major parks, was merged with the Metropolitan Police in 200450. There are also a small number of parks police forces, such as the Kew Constabulary (responsible for the Botanic Gardens). Officers of parks police have full police powers within their outlined jurisdiction.

Metropolitan Police Officers have legal jurisdiction throughout areas which have their own Special police forces, such as the Ministry of Defence. The Metropolitan Police will take over the investigation of any serious crime from the British Transport Police and Ministry of Defence Police if it is deemed appropriate. Terrorist incidents and complex murder enquiries will always be investigated by the Metropolitan Police, with the assistance of the relevant specialist force, even if they are committed on railway or Ministry of Defence property.

Along with law enforcement within the Metropolitan Police District, the Metropolitan Police also had responsibility for the policing of the Royal Dockyards and other royal naval bases between 1860 until 1934, including Portsmouth, Chatham, Devonport, Royal Naval Air Station Pembroke and the Royal Woolwich Arsenal. They also policed Rosyth Dockyard from 1914 until 1926.51

Before the 1970s, police forces often called for assistance from the Metropolitan Police due to their detective experience. The last case of this was when the now defunct Buckinghamshire Constabulary called upon the MPS to help in the investigation of the Great Train Robbery.52

Some London borough councils maintain their own borough park constabularies, such as the Newham Parks Constabulary in East London; their remit only extends to park by-laws, and although they are sworn as Constables under laws applicable to parks, their powers are not equal to those of constables appointed under the Police Acts and, meaning that they are not police officers. 53.

Structure

Mounted MPS officer outside Buckingham Palace, London

The MPS is divided in to ten departments or directorates, each is commanded by an Assistant Commissioner. In the case of civilianised departments such as Human Resources, a director of police staff, the equivalent civilian grade. The Management Board is made up of the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson and internal department heads.54.

Leadership

The senior leadership ranks of the MPS are:55

The highest rank in the service is that of Commissioner.

Territorial Policing

The Territorial Policing directorate is commanded by Assistant Commissioner Tim Godwin56, it is responsible for the day to day policing of geographical areas across London, that make up the Metropolitan Police District. It is divided into 32 Borough Operational Command Units (BOCUs), with each London boroughs having a BOCU57. Each BOCU is commanded by a Chief Superintendent, apart from Westminster, which due to its high concentration of Government facilities, is headed by a Commander.

Each BOCU provides Police officers who patrol, and respond to emergencies. Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) which are responsible for policing a specific area within a BOCU, and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers. The Aviation Security Operational Command Unit (OCU), responsible for policing Heathrow Airport and also London City Airport, is classed as Territorial Policing.

Number of officers per borough

Each BOCU has the following 'officer establishment'. The two letter code given in brackets for each borough is the ID code for that borough. Every Constable and Sergeant in the borough will have those letters on their epaulettes, as part of their shoulder number.

Barking & Dagenham (KG) - 427

Barnet (SX) - 545

Bexley (RY) - 359

Brent (QK) - 123

Bromley (PY) - 488

Camden (EK) - 795

Croydon (ZD) - 712

Ealing (XB) - 683

Enfield (YE) - 553

Greenwich (RG) - 636

Hackney (GD) - 751

Hammersmith & Fulham (FH) - 563

Haringey (YR) - 691

Harrow (QA) - 362

Havering (KD) - 379

Heathrow (ID) not a London Borough, but a BOCU -

Hillingdon (XH) - 506

Hounslow (TX) - 509

Islington (NI) - 676

Kingston upon Thames (VK) - 294

Lambeth (LX) - 915

Lewisham (PL) - 618

Merton (VW) - 374

Newham (KF) - 746

Redbridge (JI) - 464

Richmond upon Thames (TW) - 319

Kensington & Chelsea (BS) - 558

Southwark (MD) - 852

Sutton (ZT) - 328

Waltham Forest (JC) - 540

Tower Hamlets (HT) - 758

Wandsworth (WW) - 583

Westminster (CW) - 1,550

(These figures are the authorised establishments, as of February 2005, and may not be the actual number of officers posted to each BOCU – Source: Metropolitan Police Authority.58)

Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD)

The Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD) is an investigative branch of the MPS59, mainly focusing on the investigation of serious, organised and specialist crime. The SCD usually investigates crime that is beyond the remit or capabilities of local CID detectives, attached a Borough Operational Command Unit. The SCD is currently commanded by Assistant Commissioner John Yates, with Deputy Assistant Commissioner Janet Williams second in command60. Along with the two departmental heads, each command within the SCD is headed by a Commander61.

The SCD is made up of 8 Operational Command Units (OCU), eaching specialising in a form of criminal investigations62:

  • Fingerprint Services - Responsible for the collection and archiving of fingerprints, made up of people currently living in the UK. Along with providing good clearance certificates to members of the public, who whish to travel to countries that require a good behaviour certificate before they are authorised to enter66.
  • Child Abuse Investigation Command (SCD 5) - Responsible for the investigation of crimes against minors, mainly, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The Command has nineteen CAIT teams covering each borough, aiding local CID detectives, and are in close liaison with Social Services68. Within the Command, Major Investigations Teams exist which investigate child homicide, a sexual crime unit, a Hi-Teach Crime Unit which deals with computer investigations, the Safeguarding Children and Development Unit which educates against offences, and deals with aftercare of victimes, and the Ports Safeguarding Team which monitors London airports to ensure such offenders do not enter the countryh69.
  • Economic and Specialist Crime Command (SCD 6) - Responsible for investigations of serious economic crime, made up of many units within the command, such as; the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit, the Money Laundering Investigation Team, Financial Investigation Development Units, the Specialist Crime Operations Team, the Stolen Vehicle Unit, the Arts and Antiques Unit, the Police Central e-crime Unit (PCeU), the Wildlife Crime Unit, the Extradition and International Assistance Unit, the Criminal Justice Protection Unit, and the Regional Asset Recovery Team70.
  • Trident & Trafalgar Operational Command Unit (SCD 8) - Responsible for the investigation of gun related crimes within the black comminity of London. With focus on firearms related deaths, either where the suspect is black, or the victim. Also investigations where a firearms related incident within the black community led to no injury. The Command also investigates unprovoked shootings or threats to shoot unarmed officers, and PCSOs. Operation Trafalgar is also within the Command unit, dealing with shootings unrelated to black communities71.
  • Serious and Organised Crime Group (SCD 7) - Responsible for the investigations of serious, organised and life threatening crimes. The group is made up of the Central Task Force, the Projects Team, the Flying Squad, the Kidnap and Special Investigation Unit, the Hostage and Crisis Negotiations Unit and the Intelligence Support Unit72.
  • Covert Policing/Intelligence (SCD 10) - Responsible for providing a covert policing, undercover surveillance teams capability to the rest of the service. Surveillance officers can be deployed anwhere within the Metropolitan Police District in 90 minutes, and are authorised to be deployed anywhere within the United Kingdom, with an armed capability available. Made up of the; Technical Support Unit, which maintains surveillance equipment. The Authorities Office, which deals with gaining authorisation to deploy and the Prison Intelligence Unit73.

Central Operations

The Central Operations Directorate (CO)74 is responsible for providing specialist policing functions along with operational support to the rest of the Service. CO is currently headed by Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison.

CO19, in an Armed Response Vehicle (ARV)

Units in this department include:75

Operational Support:

The Metropolitan Special Constabulary Tasking Unit/Operational Support Unit has recently been created, consisting mostly of Special Constables who provide high-visibility policing and conduct public order patrols. They are normally active on Friday and Saturday nights, mainly as part of Operation Optic, an initiative aimed at reducing alcohol-related disorder and violence.

Specialist Operations

Specialist Operations (SO) is a directorate of the Service, responsible for providing specialist policing capabilities. Until Sir Kenneth Newman's restructuring of the Metropolitan Police, SO comprised of twenty units, but after the restructuring most of them were absorbed by Central Operations. It is currently headed by Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick76.

Diplomatic Protection Group, ARV. Purchased in red to denote that it does not carry out general policing, along with the yellow sticker on the body identifying the vehicle as carrying firearms.

SO is currently organised into three Commands:

Protection Command

Split into two branches:

Provides armed personal protection services for ministers and public officials at threat from terrorism, including visiting heads of government and other public figures.
Provides protection of the Monarch and other members of the Royal Family. The OCU is divided into Residential Protection, Personal and Close Protection and the Special Escort Group (SEG) who provide mobile protection.

Counter Terrorism Command (SO15)

Formed by the merger of Special Branch and the Anti-Terrorist Branch. The priority of this command is to keep the public safe and to ensure that London remains a hostile environment for terrorists. Their responsibilities include: bringing to justice anyone engaged in terrorism or related offences, preventing and disrupting terrorist activity, gathering and exploiting intelligence on terrorism and extremism in London.

Protective Security Command (SO2)

Incorporates financial, resources and HR support for the SO Business Group, including Assistant Commissioner Quick's private office. It also provides additional security and counter-terrorism co-ordination for London.

CO19 formerly was called SO19, meaning that it was within the Specialist Operations units, but in 2005, the units designation was changed when "CO" designation replaced "SO", making the unit CO19, within Central Operations.

Other Metropolitan Police Service Departments

Overview of Metropolitan Police Service Departments
Department Led by Role
Public Affairs Department Director of Public Affairs, Dick Fedorcio Deals with the media and looks after publicity and internal communications
Resources Department Act Director of Resources, Sharon Burd Responsible for finance, buildings, procurement etc.
Strategy, Modernisation & Performance Department Director Stephen Rimmer
Human Resources Department Director of Human Resources, Martin Tiplady Personnel management
Standards & Intelligence Department Assistant Commissioner John Yates Includes the Professional Standards Unit and Legal Services.
Information Department Director of Information Ailsa Beaton Responsible for information systems and operational communications, including the Metcall project.

Police ranks

See also: UK police ranks

The Metropolitan Police uses the standard UK police ranks, indicated by shoulder boards, up to Chief Superintendent, but it has five ranks above that level instead of the standard three.77

London Metropolitan Police ranks
Police
Constable		 Sergeant Inspector Chief
Inspector		 Super-
intendent		 Chief
Super-
intendent		 Commander Deputy
Assistant
Commissioner		 Assistant
Commissioner		 Deputy
Commissioner		 Commissioner
MPS constables policing an event at Trafalgar Square
MPS officers protecting World Cup revellers in London

The Metropolitan Police also has several active Volunteer Police Cadet units, which maintain their own internal rank structure.78 The Metropolitan Special Constabulary is a contingent of part-time volunteer police officers and is attached to most Borough Operational Command Units. The MSC has its own internal rank structure.

The prefix 'Woman' in front of female officers' ranks has been obsolete since 1999. Members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent prefix their ranks with 'Detective'. Other departments, such as Special Branch and Child Protection, award non-detectives 'Branch Detective' status, allowing them to use the 'Detective' prefix. Detective ranks are abbreviated as DC, DS, DI, etc, and are equivalent in rank to their uniform counterparts.

Police numbers

MPS employees consist of uniformed police officers, Police Community Support Officers, Special Constables, civilian staff and Police Community Support Officers.79 The MPS was the first force to introduce these.

Uniformed traffic wardens, who wear a uniform with yellow and black markings, are a distinct body from local authority parking attendants. The former have greater powers that include being able to stop vehicles and redirect traffic at an incident.80

Within the MPS, different roles of PCSOs exist:81

  • Neighbourhood PCSO - Provides a uniformed presence in Safer Neighbourhood Teams, which police London's boroughs and other areas within the MPS district.
  • Safer Transport PCSO - Provides a uniformed presence at railway stations, in conjunction with the Transport Police.
  • Traffic PCSO - Provides a uniformed presence by assisting the Traffic OCU in roads policing, along with issuing penalty notices.
  • Security PCSO - Provides a uniformed presence in well known areas in London, safegarding against terrorism.
  • Royal Parks PCSO - Provides a uniformed presence within the Royal Parks in the MPS District.
  • Aviation Security PCSO - Provides a uniformed presence, assisting the Aviation Security OCU in policing of London airports.
  • Station PCSO - Acts as front counter liasion with members of the public.
  • Victim PCSO - Responsible for updating victims of crime, about the police investigation.


Total numbers 2005/2006

Historic numbers

  • 2007 – approximately 31,000
  • 2003 – approximately 28,00083
  • 2001 – approximately 25,00084
  • 1984 – approximately 27,00085
  • 1965 – 18,01686
  • 1952 – 16,40087
  • 1912 – 20,52988

Past Commissioners

Past Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis, from the MPS's inception in 1829, to 2008.5

Police stations

A traditional blue lamp as seen outside most police stations. This one is outside Bow Street Police Station

In addition to the Headquarters at New Scotland Yard, there are 140 police stations in London.89 These range from large borough headquarters staffed around the clock every day to smaller stations which may be open to the public only during normal business hours, or on certain days of the week.

The oldest police station, which opened in Bow Street in 1881, closed in 1992 and the adjoining Bow Street Magistrates Court saw its last case on 14 July 2006.90 The oldest operational police station is in Wapping, and opened in 1908. It is the headquarters of the Marine Support Unit (formerly known as Thames Division), which is responsible for policing the River Thames. It also houses a mortuary and the River Police Museum.

The Metropolitan Police station Paddington Green has received much publicity for its housing of terrorism suspects in an underground complex.

Most police stations can easily be identified from one or more blue lamps located outside the entrance, which were introduced in 1861.

In the United Kingdom, police stations may have:

  • Uniformed police officers who respond to 999 calls and provide community policing.
  • Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) who are tasked with general day to day patrol in the community (excluding Ireland and Scotland).
  • Traffic wardens who enforce parking regulations.
  • Crime Reduction Officers who are tasked with attending public functions, visiting households with advice and handing out items such as personal alarms.
  • A Firearms Enquiries Officer, responsible for firearms certificates and related duties.
  • Station Reception Officers (SROs) who are in charge of the front desk and do administration.
  • Fingerprinting and Identification Officers who deal with Criminal Identities for Archives.
  • In Metropolitan Police stations, police cadets may be present helping regular officers, PCSOs or any police staff.
  • Special Constables, Sergeants and Inspectors will be present. A Special is a part-time fully trained Police Officer with powers of arrest.
  • Smaller stations usually have a number of Detective Constables (DCs) headed by a Detective Sergeant (DS), or in larger stations DCs, DSs and Detective Inspectors (DIs) are present, with the Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) in charge of the department.
  • Most stations have temporary holding cells where an arrested offender can be held overnight until escort to the court for sentencing.
  • An Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO) may be present at the station if it is central to that operational area.
  • Police stations also have kitchens to aid the officers during shifts.

In 2004 there was a call from the Institute for Public Policy Research for more imaginative planning of police stations to aid in improving relations between the police service and the wider community.91

Notable incidents and investigations

Notable major incidents and investigations in which the Metropolitan Police Service has been involved:

  • 1911 - Siege of Sidney Street - Involved members of a Latvian gang taking householders hostage while fleeing from the police, due to the violence of the situation and many officers killed and injured, the then Home Seceratary Winston Churchill took command of the siege92.
  • 30 August 1975 - Notting Hill Carnival Riot - Youths attacked police at the Notting Hill Carnival when they attempted to arrest a pickpocket, leading to a riot. For some years afterwards the carnival was a source of disorder, but in recent years it has been largely free of trouble95.
  • 18 September 1975 - Spaghetti House Siege - The Spaghetti House Siege occurred when members of the "Black Liberation Front" attempted to commit an armed robbery at Spaghetti House Restaurant to gain publicity for their cause. However, the robbery was discovered by police, and the would be robbers initiated a siege.97.
  • 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege - The Iranian Embassy Siege involved members from a terrorist group calling themselves the "Democratic Revolutionary Movement for the Liberation of Arabistan (DRMLA)" took the embassy staff hostage, the Metropolitan Police were heavily involved in the hostage negotiation, but after six days, negotiations were terminated, preceded by an assault by the British Army's Special Air Service99.
  • 1982-86 Railway Rapists - John Duffy and David Mulcahy committed 18 rapes of women and young girls near railway stations in London and the South East, murdering three of their victims. Metropolitan Police officers worked with neighbouring forces to solve the crimes. Duffy was convicted in 1988, but Mulcahy was not brought to justice until almost 10 years later.100
  • September 28 1985 - Brixton Riots - Riots erupted in Brixton, fuelled by dissatisfaction over economic conditions and racial tension. Between the three incidents, nearly 1,000 people were injured and millions of pounds worth of damage were caused.101102103
  • 6 October 1985 - Broadwater Farm Riot - A week after the Brixton riot of 28 September 1985, while tensions among the black community were still high, riots broke out in Tottenham after the mother of a black man whose house was being searched died of a heart attack during the operation. In the course of the riot, PC Keith Blakelock was murdered.104
  • 1986 - Stockwell Strangler - Kenneth Erskine carried out a series of attacks in Stockwell on elderly men and women, breaking into their homes and strangling them to death. Most were sexually assaulted.105
  • 18 November 1987 - King's Cross Fire - Fire broke out under a wooden escalator leading from one of the underground station platforms to the surface. The blaze and resulting smoke claimed 31 lives, including that of a senior firefighter.106
  • 12 December 1988 - Clapham Train Crash - A packed commuter train passed a defective signal and ran into the back of a second train, derailing it into the path of a third coming the other way. The crash killed 35 people and seriously injured 69 others.107
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