Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Service area
Coverage
Area	Greater London (except City of London)
Size	1,578 km² (609 sq mi)
Population	7.4 million
Operations
Formed	1829
HQ	New Scotland Yard
Budget	{{{budget}}}
Officers	31,073
OCU's	33
Stations	180
Commissioner	Sir Ian Blair
Website	Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is the name currently used by the territorial police force which is responsible for Greater London other than the City of London (the responsibility of the City of London Police). It is commonly referred to as the Metropolitan Police, and informally as "the Met" or sometimes MP; in statutes it is usually described in lower case as the "metropolitan police" without the appendage "Service". Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2165x2670, 87 KB) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... Motto: Domine dirige nos Latin: Lord, guide us Shown within Greater London Sovereign state United Kingdom Constituent country England Region Greater London Status sui generis, City and Ceremonial County Admin HQ Guildhall Government  - Leadership see text  - Mayor John Stuttard  - MP Mark Field  - London Assembly John Biggs Area  - City  1. ... Alternative meanings: Scotland Yard (band), Scotland Yard board game New Scotland Yard, London New Scotland Yard, often referred to as simply Scotland Yard or The Yard, is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for policing Greater London (although not the City of London itself). ... Sir Ian Warwick Blair, QPM (born 19 March 1953) is Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police (head of the Metropolitan Police Service). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The phrase Territorial Police Force varies in precise meaning according to the country to which it is related, generally distinguishing a force whose area of responsibility is defined by sub-national boundaries from others which deal with the entire country or a restricted range of crime. ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... Motto: Domine dirige nos Latin: Lord, guide us Shown within Greater London Sovereign state United Kingdom Constituent country England Region Greater London Status sui generis, City and Ceremonial County Admin HQ Guildhall Government  - Leadership see text  - Mayor John Stuttard  - MP Mark Field  - London Assembly John Biggs Area  - City  1. ... City Police Mounted Section officer The City of London Police is the Home Office police force responsible for the City of London, including the Middle and Inner Temple. ... An appendage is, in general, an external body part that projects from the body, or a natural prolongation or projection from a part of any organism. ...

With over 31,000 officers, 1,070 Special Constables, 13,661 police staff, 414 traffic wardens and 2,106 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), the MPS is the largest force in the United Kingdom.^[1] The headquarters is at New Scotland Yard in Westminster, commonly known as Scotland Yard, although administrative functions are increasingly based at the Empress State Building (ESB) and by the end of 2007 all command and control functions will be transferred to the three Metcall complexes. Its head is the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis or simply the Commissioner, responsible to the Metropolitan Police Authority. The post was first held jointly by Colonel Sir Charles Rowan and Sir Richard Mayne. The current commissioner is Sir Ian Blair. New Scotland Yard, London New Scotland Yard, it blowwsssss often referred to simply as Scotland Yard or The Yard, is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for policing Greater London (although not the City of London itself). ... Westminster is a district within the City of Westminster in London. ... The Empress State Building is a skyscraper in Hammersmith and Fulham, London. ... Metcall (commonly but incorrectly known as The C3i Programme) is an ongoing project to completely restructure the communications structure of Londons Metropolitan Police Service. ... The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (usually just referred to as the Metropolitan Police Commissioner or, more colloquially, as the Met Commissioner) is the head of the Metropolitan Police Service in London. ... The Metropolitan Police Authority is the police authority responsible for supervising the Metropolitan Police Service, the police force for Greater London. ... Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Rowan KCB (circa 1782–8 May 1852) was the joint first Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, head of the London Metropolitan Police. ... Sir Richard Mayne KCB (27 November 1796–26 December 1868) was a barrister and the joint first Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, the head of the London Metropolitan Police. ... Sir Ian Warwick Blair, QPM (born 19 March 1953) is Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police (head of the Metropolitan Police Service). ...

Area covered and other forces

The MPS area is known as the Metropolitan Police District (MPD), and coincides with the 32 London boroughs that make up Greater London, but excludes the City of London. The Metropolitan Police District (MPD) is the area policed by Londons Metropolitan Police Service. ... The administrative area of Greater London contains 32 London Boroughs, of which twelve (plus the City of London) make up Inner London and twenty Outer London. ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... Motto: Domine dirige nos Latin: Lord, guide us Shown within Greater London Sovereign state United Kingdom Constituent country England Region Greater London Status sui generis, City and Ceremonial County Admin HQ Guildhall Government  - Leadership see text  - Mayor John Stuttard  - MP Mark Field  - London Assembly John Biggs Area  - City  1. ...

Before April 1, 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, and Banstead, Cheshunt, Chigwell, Loughton, Esher, Northaw and Cuffley and Waltham Abbey. is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the English county. ... For the similarly named county in the West Midlands region, see Herefordshire. ... For other meanings of Essex, see Essex (disambiguation). ... Epsom and Ewell is a local government district with borough status in Surrey, England, covering Epsom and Ewell. ... Hertsmere is a local government district and borough in Hertfordshire, England. ... Spelthorne is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. ... Banstead is a town in Surrey, England, on the border with Greater London. ... Statistics Population: 51,998 (Census 2001) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: TL358021 Administration District: Broxbourne Shire county: Hertfordshire Region: East of England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Hertfordshire Historic county: Hertfordshire Services Police force: Hertfordshire Constabulary Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: East of England Post... Chigwell is a civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex. ... For other places with the same name, see Loughton (disambiguation). ... Esher is a town in the Surrey borough of Elmbridge in South East England near the River Mole. ... Northaw church Northaw is a village in the Welwyn Hatfield district of Hertfordshire, England. ... Waltham Abbey is a market town of about 20,400 people in the south west of the county of Essex, in the East of England region. ...

The square mile of the City of London is the responsibility of the City of London Police, a separate Home Office territorial force. City Police Mounted Section officer The City of London Police is the Home Office police force responsible for the City of London, including the Middle and Inner Temple. ...

The Ministry of Defence Police is responsible for Ministry of Defence property in the capital, and other bases and premises in the UK.^[2] The Ministry of Defence Police (or MOD Police; MDP; coloquially referred to as MOD Plods) is a non-Home Office police force in the United Kingdom. ... The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ...

The British Transport Police is responsible for the rail network, including the London Underground, Tramlink and the Docklands Light Railway.^[3] The British Transport Police (BTP) is a non-Home Office national police service responsible for policing the railway system throughout Great Britain. ... The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and previously consisted of Great Britain and the whole of Ireland. ... The London Underground is an underground railway system - also known as a rapid transit system - that serves a large part of Greater London, United Kingdom and some neighbouring areas. ... Tramlink (initially known as Croydon Tramlink) is a public transport tramway in south London, operated by FirstGroup on behalf of Transport for London. ... London Transport Portal The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a light rail system serving the redeveloped Docklands area of East London, England. ...

The English part of the Royal Parks Constabulary, which patrolled a number of Greater London's major parks, was absorbed by the Metropolitan Police in 2004. There are also a few parks police forces, such as the Kew Constabulary (policing the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) and Hampstead Heath. Those officers have full police powers within their limited jurisdiction, but all substantial crime and incidents are the responsibility of the MPS. The Royal Parks Constabulary (RPC) is the police force formerly responsible for the Royal Parks in London and a number of other locations in Greater London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland; it now only exists in Scotland as part of Historic Scotland. ... The Kew Constabulary (formerly the Royal Botanic Gardens Constabulary) is a very small, specialised constabulary responsible for policing the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in London, England. ... “Kew Gardens” redirects here. ... Hampstead Heath Constabulary is a small, specialised police force responsible for policing Hampstead Heath, an area of open land in London belonging to the City of London Police officers of this force have all the powers of a constable whilst in their limited jurisdiction of the Heath. ...

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, so parks constables are not police officers, and any criminal investigations in these areas are the responsibility of the MPS. Newham Parks Constabulary is a very small non-Home Office constabularly responsible for patrolling the 52 parks and open spaces covering 163 hectares in the London Borough of Newham. ... A Bylaw (sometimes also seen as By-Law or ByLaw) is a rule governing the internal management of an organization, such as a business corporation. ...

Structure: MPS directorates

Mounted MPS officer outside Buckingham Palace, London

The MPS is divided into ten departments or directorates, each commanded by an Assistant Commissioner or, 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 these departmental heads. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1477x1153, 574 KB) A mounted police officer passes Buckingham Palace, London. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1477x1153, 574 KB) A mounted police officer passes Buckingham Palace, London. ... Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Paul Stephenson QPM is the Deputy Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, and as such is second-in-command. ...

Territorial Policing

The Territorial Policing directorate is commanded by Assistant Commissioner Tim Godwin. It is responsible for everyday policing across London and is divided into 32 Borough Operational Command Units (BOCUs), contiguous with the London boroughs (with the exception of the Royal Parks OCU). Each BOCU is commanded by a Chief Superintendent, apart from Westminster, which due to its high concentration of government facilities is led by a Commander. Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, usually just called Assistant Commissioner (AC), is today the third highest rank in the London Metropolitan Police, ranking below Deputy Commissioner and above Deputy Assistant Commissioner. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Metropolitan Police Service. ... The administrative area of Greater London contains 32 London Boroughs, of which twelve (plus the City of London) make up Inner London and twenty Outer London. ... The Royal Parks of London are lands originally owned by the monarchy of England or the United Kingdom for the recreation of the royal family. ... Chief Superintendent (Ch Supt/CSP; colloquially Chief Super) is a senior rank in the Police Forces. ... Westminster is a district within the City of Westminster in London. ... Commander is a military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. ...

Each BOCU provides patrol and response police officers, safer neighbourhood teams, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers and other local squads and units. The Aviation Security Operational Command Unit (OCU), responsible for policing Heathrow Airport and also London City Airport, is also under Territorial Policing. Charles Vincent, founder of the Metropolitan Police CID The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is the branch of all British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces to which plain clothes detectives belong. ... The Aviation Security Operational Command Unit (SO18) is a Specialist Operations unit of the London Metropolitan Police that provides policing and security for both Heathrow and London City airports. ... London Heathrow Airport (IATA airport code: LHR, ICAO airport code: EGLL, and often simply Heathrow) is the United Kingdoms busiest and best-connected airport. ... London City Airport (IATA: LCY, ICAO: EGLC) is a single-runway airport, intended for use by STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) airliners, and principally serving the financial districts of London. ...

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". Epaulette [pronunciation: ĕp-ǝ-lĕt], a French word meaning little shoulders (epaule, referring to shoulder), is an ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia or rank by military or other organizations. ... A collar number, also known as a shoulder number or Force Identification Number, identifies uniformed officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), and some police staff in UK police forces. ...

(These figures are the authorised establishments and may not be the actual number of officers posted to each BOCU – Source: Metropolitan Police Authority.^[4])

Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD)

The SCD is commanded by Assistant Commissioner Steve House. It deals with serious, organised and specialist crime investigations and is divided into commands as follows:

• Homicide Command (SCD 1), made up of a number of major investigation teams (MITs) and is responsible for the investigation of homicide and other serious crimes. Other units, such as Child Abuse Command and Operation Trident (see below) conduct murder investigations if the homicide falls within their remit. MITs investigate murder, manslaughter, infanticide, attempted murder where the evidence of intent is unambiguous or there is a substantive risk to life, missing persons or abductions where there is a substantive reason to suspect life has been taken or is under threat, and other investigations identified for specialist needs. Another unit in this command is the Homicide Task Force, which conducts work to suppress murder and ‘man hunts’ for those suspects wanted for murder.

• Forensic Services (SCD 4)

• Child Abuse Investigation Command (SCD 5), made up of the Paedophile Unit, the Hi-Tech Crime Unit, the Child Abuse Prevention and Partnership Unit, the Ports Safeguarding Team and Major Investigation Teams.

• Economic and Specialist Crime Command (SCD 6) including 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 Computer Crime Unit, the Wildlife Crime Unit, the Extradition and International Assistance Unit, the Criminal Justice Protection Unit, and the Regional Asset Recovery Team.

• Trident Operational Command Unit (SCD 8) was set up in 1998 as a proactive unit combatting gun crime perpetrated on London’s black communities. A new command structure was set up on 24 July 2000, with three specialist senior detectives supported by 160 police officers tasked with black community gun crime cases. Trident is currently broken down into murder, proactive/shootings and intelligence wings, staffed by 270 officers and 70 staff. In January 2004 Trident also took on the investigation of shootings in all of London’s communities, through the Trafalgar team of 34 officers.

• The Serious and Organised Crime Group (SCD 7) ‘tackles serious and organised crime, life-threatening crimes in action and those who inflict human misery on the people of London through fast time pro-active response’. 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 Unit.

• Covert Policing (SCD 10)

• Intelligence (SCD 11)

Homicide (Latin homicidium, homo human being + caedere to cut, kill) refers to the act of killing another human being. ... Operation Trident is a Metropolitan Police Service initiative set up to deal with gun crime in Londons black community. ... In sociology and biology, infanticide is the practice of intentionally causing the death of an infant of a given species, by members of the same species - often by the mother. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... (Other meanings: a union flying squad is a subset of a labor union) The Flying Squad is a branch of Londons Metropolitan Police force. ...

Central Operations

Central Operations (CO), commanded by Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, is responsible for pan-London units that support the BOCUs and specialist units. Units in this department include Central Communications Command (CO10), including Metcall (C3i), Public Order Operational Command Unit (CO11), Olympics Preparation Operational Command Unit (CO12), Traffic Operational Command Unit (CO15), Transport Operational Command Unit (CO17), Operational Support OCU (CO18) comprising Mounted Branch, Air Support Unit, Dog Support Unit and Marine Support Unit, the Specialist Firearms Command (CO19), and the Territorial Support Group (CO20). Central Operations (CO) is a major command of the London Metropolitan Police that provides operational support to the rest of the service. ... Tarique Ghaffur CBE QPM (IPA: [tʌɹiːk ɡæfuːɹ])[1] is a high-ranking British police officer in Londons Metropolitan Police Service. ... Metcall (commonly but incorrectly known as The C3i Programme) is an ongoing project to completely restructure the communications structure of Londons Metropolitan Police Service. ... Metcall (commonly but incorrectly known as The C3i Programme) is an ongoing project to completely restructure the communications structure of Londons Metropolitan Police Service. ... The Traffic Operational Command Unit (CO15 from its Central Operations designation) is a traffic police unit of the London Metropolitan Police that polices the London road network. ... The Transport Operational Command Unit (TOCU or CO17 from its Central Operations designation) is a transit police unit of the London Metropolitan Police that polices buses, bus routes, taxis and minicabs. ... A unit of the London Metropolitan Police equipped with horses for patrol and public order use. ... A unit of the London Metropolitan Police equipped with helicopters. ... The Metropolitan Police Dog Support Unit (DSU) is part of Central Operations along with the Air Support Unit and Marine Support Unit. ... A Fast Response Targa 31 boat of the Marine Support Unit of the Metropolitan Police, on the River Thames in London The Marine Support Unit (MSU, commonly known by its prior name of Thames Division) is a Central Operations unit of the Metropolitan Police, that polices the River Thames in... The Specialist Firearms Command (CO19) (better known by its former Specialist Operations designation SO19) is the department of Londons Metropolitan Police which provides firearms-related support to the generally unarmed force. ... The Territorial Support Group (TSG, or CO20) is a Central Operations unit of Londons Metropolitan Police Service. ...

A new unit, the Metropolitan Special Constabulary Tasking Unit (also referred to as MSC OSU), is the latest addition. It consists mostly of Special Constables who provide high-visibility policing and conduct public order patrols, normally on Friday & Saturday nights, mainly as part of Operation Optic, an initiative aimed at reducing alcohol-related violence. The Metropolitan Special Constabulary, known as the MSC, is the part-time volunteer Police Force of the London Metropolitan Police Service. ... The Special Constabulary is a volunteer section of the British police. ...

Specialist Operations

Specialist Operations (SO), commanded by Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman, is responsible for units that undertake tasks of national importance. This department has recently undergone restructuring and now consists of three commands, known as: Protection Command, Security Command and Counter Terrorism Command. Specialist Operations was a group of twenty specialist Metropolitan Police units which were set up in 1986 as part of Sir Kenneth Newmans restructuring of the Metropolitan Police Service. ...

The Protection Command, headed by Commander Peter Loughborough, is divided into four sections. The first section is Specialist Protection, who are responsible for the personal protection of the Prime Minister and other government ministers. The next section is Royalty Protection, who are responsible for the personal protection of members of the Royal Family and the protection of royal residences. The next section is the Diplomatic Protection Group, who are responsible for the protection of embassies and the personal protection of visiting heads of state and heads of government. The final section is the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) section, who are responsible for patrolling the building and conducting searches of visitors.

The Security Command, headed by Commander Ian Carter, is responsible for security at Heathrow Airport and London City Airport. Their duties include patrolling the interior and exterior of airport buildings and the local area.

The Counter Terrorism Command, also known as SO15 and headed by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke (who is also the National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations), was 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 do everything they can to ensure that London remains a hostile environment for terrorists. Their responsibilities include: bringing to justice anyone engaged in terrorist or related offences, providing a proactive and reactive response to terrorist and related offences, preventing and disrupting terrorist activity, gathering and exploiting intelligence on terrorism and extremism in London, to assist the British Security Service (MI5) and the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), and to assist the National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations (DAC Peter Clarke) outside London.

Other Metropolitan Police Service Departments

Assistant Commissioner John Yates is one of five senior police officers who hold the rank in the Metropolitan Police, the statutory police force for Greater London excluding the City of London. ... Directorate of Professional standards (DPS) The DPS is a branch of the Metropolitan Police that is responsible for preserving the highest standards of ethics and integrity, which have formed the bedrock of the MPS reputation for the last 175 years It focuses on five main areas: -Leadership and supervision -Security... Metcall (commonly but incorrectly known as The C3i Programme) is an ongoing project to completely restructure the communications structure of Londons Metropolitan Police Service. ...

History

The Metropolitan Police was established on September 29, 1829, by the then Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel, giving rise to the nicknames of "Peelers" or "Bobbies" for members of the force. It was the third official non-paramilitary city police force in the world, after the City of Glasgow Police and the Paris Police. is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office and is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales, and for immigration and citizenship for the whole United Kingdom (including Scotland and Northern Ireland). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The City of Glasgow Police was one of the first professional police forces in modern history. ... The Préfet de Police is an official of the Government of France who supervises police and emergency services to Paris and the surrounding eight departments of Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Seine-et-Marne, Val-de-Marne, Essonne, Yvelines and Val dOise, and has other security duties...

Red MPS Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG) car

Until the middle of the 18th century, no police force operated in London. General law and order was maintained by magistrates, volunteer constables, watchmen and, where necessary, the armed forces. If a victim of crime wished to pursue an offender they could employ a "thief taker", who earned a living from such payments and, in the case of notorious offenders, the rewards offered by the courts. The novelist Henry Fielding was appointed a magistrate in Westminster in 1748. His house at No. 4 Bow Street was established as a courtroom in 1739 by the previous owner Sir Thomas de Veil. Fielding brought together eight trustworthy constables, who came to be known as the Bow Street Runners, and gave them the authority to enforce the decisions of magistrates. London police car. ... London police car. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... A magistrate is a judicial officer. ... For the painter, see John Constable. ... The armed forces of the United Kingdom are known as the British Armed Forces or Her Majestys Armed Forces, officially the Armed Forces of the Crown. ... Henry Fielding (April 22, 1707 – October 8, 1754) was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich earthy humor and satirical prowess and as the author of the novel Tom Jones. ... Bow Street looking north. ... 19th Century depiction of the Bow Street Magistrates Court, to which the Bow Street Runners were attached. ...

Fielding's blind half-brother Sir John Fielding (known as the "Blind Beak of Bow Street") succeeded his brother as magistrate in 1754 and refined the patrol into the first truly effective police force for the capital, although the Runners were still magistrate's officers and not patrolling police officers. This article is about the London magistrate. ...

By 1792 salaried constables were being paid by local magistrates, and 1798 saw the establishment of the Marine Police Force, 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 English policing system. This force later amalgamated with the Metropolitan Police to form its Thames Division, which still patrols the river. The Marine Police Force, sometimes known as the Thames River Police and said to be Englands first Police force, was formed by magistrate Patrick Colquhoun and a Master Mariner, John Harriott, in 1798 to tackle theft and looting from ships anchored in the Pool of London and the lower... Wapping Old Stairs, one of many points of access to the foreshore in the area. ... Preventive police is that aspect of law enforcement intended to act as a deterrent to the commission of crime. ... The Thames Division was formed in 1839 when the Marine Police Force was amalgamated with the Metropolitan Police Force. ...

Two MPS officers and a community support officer near Buckingham Palace

During the early 19th century, the Industrial Revolution saw London become much larger. It became clear that the system of locally maintained constabularies was ineffective in the prevention and detection of crime amongst such a large population. Royal Assent was given to the Metropolitan Police Act on 19 June 1829. This act placed the policing of the capital directly under the control of the Home Secretary. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1100x1488, 525 KB) Two police officers and a community support officer near Buckingham Palace, London, England. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1100x1488, 525 KB) Two police officers and a community support officer near Buckingham Palace, London, England. ... A Watt steam engine, the steam engine that propelled the Industrial Revolution in Britain and the world. ... // The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of lawmaking by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. ... There were various Metropolitan Police Acts Metropolitan Police Act 1829 Metropolitan Police Act 1839 Metropolitan Police Act 1856 Metropolitan Police Act 1860 Metropolitan Police Act 1864 Metropolitan Police Act 1886 Metropolitan Police Act 1887 Metropolitan Police Act 1899 And several Acts with related names: Metropolitan Police (Receiver) Act 1861 Metropolitan... is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office and is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales, and for immigration and citizenship for the whole United Kingdom (including Scotland and Northern Ireland). ...

Police patrols took to the streets on 29 September 1829, despite strong resistance from the populace.^[5] The initial force consisted of around 1,000 men with instructions to patrol the streets within a seven-mile (11 km) radius of Charing Cross in order to prevent crime and pursue offenders. The following year, on June 28, 1830, Joseph Grantham became the first member of the force to be killed in the line of duty. is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Victorian Eleanor Cross at Charing Cross The name Charing Cross, now given to a district of central London in the City of Westminster, comes from the original hamlet of Charing, where King Edward I placed a memorial to his wife, Eleanor of Castile. ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 (MDCCCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Joseph Grantham (d. ...

In 1857 the Commissioner Richard Mayne was paid a salary of £1,883, and his two Assistant Commissioners were paid salaries £800 each.^[6]

It took some time to establish the standards of discipline expected today from a police force. For instance, during 1863 215 officers were arrested for drunkenness.^{[citation needed]}

One of the priorities of the police force from the beginning was "maintaining public order", and they were very active, for example, against the major Chartist demonstrations. A movement for social and political reform in the United Kingdom during the mid_19th century, Chartism gains its name from the Peoples Charter of 1838, which set out the main aims of the movement. ...

The force continued to be controlled directly by the Home Secretary until 2000, when the newly created Greater London Authority was given responsibility for 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 Secretary. The Greater London Authority (GLA) administers the 1579 km² (610 sq. ... The Metropolitan Police Authority is the police authority responsible for supervising the Metropolitan Police Service, the police force for Greater London. ... Ken Livingstone, the current Mayor of London The Mayor of London is an elected politician in London, United Kingdom. ... The London Assembly is an elected body that supervises the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London. ...

Female police constables first joined the force in September, 1949. They used the prefix 'Woman' in front of their rank — as in Woman Police Constable (WPC) and Woman Police Sergeant (WPS) — to distinguish themselves from male officers, who had wider authority. Their original duties were restricted to patrolling and the care and observation of female and juvenile male detainees. They were usually seconded to the CID but the first Woman Detective Constable was not appointed until 1970. They were given six-day, 48-hour work weeks but were not allowed to work night shifts, except for special on-call duty, until June 1973.

Police ranks

See also: UK police ranks

See also: Special Constabulary

See also: Metropolitan Special Constabulary

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.^[7] Most of the police forces of the United Kingdom use a standard set of ranks, shown here in descending seniority from left to right. ... The Special Constabulary is the part-time volunteer section of a statutory police force in the United Kingdom or some Crown dependencies. ... The Metropolitan Special Constabulary, known as the MSC, is the part-time volunteer Police Force of the London Metropolitan Police Service. ... Chief Superintendent (Ch Supt/CSP; colloquially Chief Super) is a senior rank in the Police Forces. ...

Metropolitan Police Officers protecting World Cup revellers in London.

• Police Constable (PC) (Division Call Sign and Shoulder Number)
• Acting Sergeant (APS) (two or three point down chevrons over Shoulder Number with Division Call Sign)
• Sergeant (Sgt or PS) (three point down chevrons over Shoulder Number with Division Call Sign)
• Inspector (Insp) (two stars of the Order of the Bath, informally known as pips)
• Chief Inspector (Ch Insp) (three pips)
• Superintendent (Supt) (crown)
• Chief Superintendent (Ch Supt) (crown over one pip)
• Commander (Cmdr) (crossed tipstaves in a bayleaf wreath); this is the first ACPO rank.
• Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) (one pip over Commander's badge)
• Assistant Commissioner (AC) (crown over Commander's badge); this rank is equal to a Chief Constable in other forces in England and Wales, although the functions of the role are different
• Deputy Commissioner (crown above two side-by-side small pips, above Commander's badge)
• Commissioner (crown above one pip above Commander's badge)
• The Metropolitan Police also has several active Volunteer Police Cadet units, which maintain their own internal rank structure.^[8]
• 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. Image File history File linksMetadata DSC05638. ... Image File history File linksMetadata DSC05638. ... For the painter, see John Constable. ... A collar number, also known as a shoulder number or Force Identification Number, identifies uniformed officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), and some police staff in UK police forces. ... For other uses, see Sergeant (disambiguation). ... A chevron (also spelled cheveron, especially in older documents) is a V-shaped pattern. ... A collar number, also known as a shoulder number or Force Identification Number, identifies uniformed officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), and some police staff in UK police forces. ... For other uses, see Sergeant (disambiguation). ... A chevron (also spelled cheveron, especially in older documents) is a V-shaped pattern. ... A collar number, also known as a shoulder number or Force Identification Number, identifies uniformed officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), and some police staff in UK police forces. ... Inspector is a rank in many police forces. ... Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) Ribbon of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath)[1] is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on May 18, 1725. ... Chief Inspector (Ch Insp) is a rank in British Police forces. ... Superintendent (Supt. ... Chief Superintendent (Ch Supt/CSP; colloquially Chief Super) is a senior rank in the Police Forces. ... Commander is a military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. ... The Tipstaff has two different meanings, both somewhat related // The office of the Tipstaff is thought to be created in the 14th century. ... The Association of Chief Police Officers or ACPO is the lead organisation for developing police policy in the United Kingdom (except Scotland), and acts as a representative body for senior police officers. ... The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (usually just referred to as the Metropolitan Police Commissioner or, more colloquially, as the Met Commissioner) is the head of the Metropolitan Police Service in London. ... Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, usually just called Assistant Commissioner (AC), is today the third highest rank in the London Metropolitan Police, ranking below Deputy Commissioner and above Deputy Assistant Commissioner. ... Chief Constable is the title given to the commanding officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except the two responsible for Greater London. ... The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (usually just called the Deputy Commissioner) is the second-in-command of the London Metropolitan Police, ranking below the Commissioner and above the Assistant Commissioners. ... The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (usually just referred to as the Metropolitan Police Commissioner or, more colloquially, as the Met Commissioner) is the head of the Metropolitan Police Service in London. ... // Traditionally young people from the age of 16 could apply to join a Police Force as a full time and paid Police cadet (if that Force operated such a scheme), the Police Cadets were seen as a precussor to joining the Police at 19, although there was no compulsion for... The Metropolitan Special Constabulary, known as the MSC, is the part-time volunteer Police Force of the London Metropolitan Police Service. ... Charles Vincent, founder of the Metropolitan Police CID The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is the branch of all British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces to which plain clothes detectives belong. ... Special Branch is the arm of the British, Irish and many Commonwealth police forces that deals with national security matters. ...

Police numbers

The MPS staff consists of full-time uniformed officers, civilian officers who often staff the front desks of police stations - they wear a uniform consisting of a vertically blue-striped shirt - and Police Community Support Officers.^[9] The MPS was the first force to introduce these. There are also volunteer Special Constables who are members of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary (MSC). In the United Kingdom, a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) is a uniformed civilian working with the Police. ... The Special Constabulary is the part-time volunteer section of a statutory police force in the United Kingdom or some Crown dependencies. ... The Metropolitan Special Constabulary, known as the MSC, is the part-time volunteer Police Force of the London Metropolitan Police Service. ...

There are uniformed Traffic Wardens, who wear a uniform with yellow and black markings - they are a distinct body from local authority parking attendants. The former have greater powers that include being able to stop vehicles and re-direct traffic at an incident.^[10]

Total numbers 2005/2006

• Full-time Police Officers: over 31,000 (source MPA)
• Police Community Support Officers: over 2100 (source MPA)
• Special Constables: 1800 (as at September 2006)^{[citation needed]}
• Traffic wardens: 500
• Other police staff: 13,561^[11]

Historic numbers

• 2007 — approximatley 31,000
• 2003 — approximately 28,000^[12]
• 2001 — approximately 25,000^[13] (London population 7,172,000)
• 1984 — approximately 27,000^[14]

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.^[15] 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. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x800, 124 KB) Summary A photo of a traditional blue lamp as located outside most English police stations. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x800, 124 KB) Summary A photo of a traditional blue lamp as located outside most English police stations. ... Bow Street looking north. ...

The oldest police station, at Bow Street, which opened in 1881, closed in 1992 and the adjoining Bow Street Magistrates Court saw its last case on 14 July 2006.^[16] Bow Street looking north. ... A hearing at Bow Street Magistrates Court, circa 1808. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The oldest operational police station is at Wapping, 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. Wapping Old Stairs, one of many points of access to the foreshore in the area. ... A Fast Response Targa 31 boat of the Marine Support Unit of the Metropolitan Police, on the River Thames in London The Marine Support Unit (MSU, commonly known by its prior name of Thames Division) is a Central Operations unit of the Metropolitan Police, that polices the River Thames in... This article is about the River Thames in southern England. ... A mortuary is a cold chamber used to keep the deceased from seriously decomposing; this practice exists for the sake of recognition of the deceased and to allow time to prepare for burial. ...

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

A typical police station features separate entrances for the public and police officers, with a small reception room for members of the public, a custody suite and cells for holding and questioning suspects, and administrative offices.

In recent years there has been a call from some quarters for more imaginative planning of police stations to aid in improving relations between the police service and the wider community.^[17]

Notable incidents and investigations

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

• 10 October 2006 - Operation Minstead - Detectives from the Serious Crime Directorate issue an appeal for the subject of the UK's most extensive rape investigation to surrender himself to police.^[18]

• 13 September 2006 - Operation Mokpo - Officers from Operation Trident make the MPS's largest seizure of firearms after a series of raids in Dartford, Kent. A senior officer was quoted as saying: "This operation has resulted in hundreds of guns being taken out of circulation."^[19]

• 2006 - TransAtlantic Aircraft Bomb Plots - The Metropolitan Police continue to investigate alleged aircraft bombing plots and other related terrorist activities by militant Islamists.

• 21 July 2005 - Attempted London Bombings - Multiple attempted bombings across London, in which MPS officers worked to a similar plan to that used two weeks previously. In the aftermath of these events, Jean Charles de Menezes was mistakenly targeted as a potential terrorist and shot dead in a deployment of Operation Kratos.

A Fast Response Targa 31 boat of the Marine Support Unit of the MPS, on the River Thames in London

• 7 July 2005 - London Bombings - Multiple bombings across London, in which MPS officers worked to a Major Incident Plan to provide coordination, control and forensic and investigative resources.^[20]

• 5 October 1999 - Paddington Train Crash - Often referred to as Ladbroke Grove Crash, two trains collided a short distance outside Paddington Station, killing 31 people.^[21]

• 18 June 1999 - Anti-capitalist Riot - Previously peaceful anti-capitalist demonstrations ended with disorder in The City, which caused widespread damage, particularly to businesses in the financial district identified with global capitalism.^[22] Similar rioting broke out on 1 May 2000 around Trafalgar Square and The Strand, and again in 2001. Recently May Day has been more peaceful, but it remains a potential flashpoint date for such actions.

• April 1999 - London Nailbomber - Lone bomber David Copeland carried out a series of hate attacks on ethnic minority areas and on a pub frequented by the homosexual community.^[23]

• 1993 - "Gay Slayer" - Former soldier Colin Ireland murdered five homosexual men in a deliberate bid to get notoriety - he had read an article that said to be a serial killer you must have killed five times or more.^[24]

• 8 January 1991 - Cannon Street Train Crash - Two people were killed and over 500 injured.^[25]

• 31 March 1990 - Trafalgar Square Riot - Also known as the Poll Tax Riot, this was triggered by growing unrest against the Community Charge, and grew from a legitimate demonstration which had taken place that morning. An estimated £400,000-worth of damage was caused.

• 20 August 1989 - Sinking of the Marchioness - Pleasure boat the Marchioness was struck by the dredger Bowbelle, killing 30 people.^[26]

• 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.^[27]

• 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.^[28]

• 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.^[29]

• 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.^[30]

• 1982-1986 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.^[31]

• 28 February 1975 - Moorgate Tube Train Crash - A London Undergr