The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), formerly and still commonly referred to as the Metropolitan Police, is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement and the prevention of crime within the ceremonial county of Greater London. In addition, it is responsible for some specialised matters throughout the United Kingdom, including national counter-terrorism measures and the protection of specific people, such as the monarch and other members of the royal family, members of the government,[10] and other officials.
The main geographical area of responsibilities, the Metropolitan Police District, consists of the 32 London boroughs,[11] but does not include the City of London proper—the central financial district—which is policed by a separate force, the City of London Police. As the force responsible for the capital of the United Kingdom, the Met has significant unique responsibilities and challenges, such as protecting 164 foreign embassies and High Commissions,[12] policing London City and Heathrow airports, protecting the Palace of Westminster, and dealing with significantly more protests and events than any other British force, with 3,500 such events in 2016.[12]
The force, by officer numbers, is the largest in the United Kingdom by a significant margin, and one of the biggest in the world.[13] Leaving its national responsibilities aside, the Met has the eighth-smallest police area (primary geographic area of responsibility) of the territorial police forces in the United Kingdom.
A number of informal names are used for the service, most commonly the Met. It is also referred to as Scotland Yard or the Yard, after the location of its original headquarters in a road called Great Scotland Yard in Whitehall.[15] The Met's current headquarters is New Scotland Yard, on the Victoria Embankment.[16]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2022)
The Metropolitan Police Service was founded in 1829 by Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel under the Metropolitan Police Act 1829 and on 29 September of that year, the first constables of the service appeared on the streets of London.[17] Ten years later, Metropolitan Police Act 1839 consolidated policing within London by expanding the Metropolitan Police District and either abolishing or amalgamating the various other law enforcement entities within London into the Metropolitan Police such as the Thames River Police and the Bow Street Runners.[18][19]
Before 2000, the Metropolitan Police was under the authority of the Home Secretary, the only British territorial police force to be administered by central government. The Metropolitan Police Office (MPO), although based at Scotland Yard, was a department of the Home Office created in 1829 and was responsible for the force's day-to-day administration. Under the authority of the receiver, a civilian official who was equivalent in rank to the deputy commissioner and served as the force's chief financial officer, it was headed by a civilian secretary, who was equivalent in rank to the assistant commissioners.[22]
Police area and other forcesedit
The area policed by the Metropolitan Police Service is known as the Metropolitan Police District (MPD). The Met was divided into 32 Borough Operational Command Units that directly aligned with the 32 London boroughs covered. This situation has changed since 2017, as the Met has attempted to save money due to cuts in funding. The MPD is now divided into 12 Basic Command Units (BCUs) made up of two, three or four boroughs. There is criticism of these changes.[23] The City of London (which is not a London borough) is a separate police area and is the responsibility of the separate City of London Police.
Metropolitan Police officers have legal jurisdiction throughout all of England and Wales, including areas that have their own special police forces, such as the Ministry of Defence, as do all police officers of territorial police forces.[28] Officers also have limited powers in Scotland and Northern Ireland.[29] Within the MPD, the Met will take over the investigation of any serious crime from the Ministry of Defence Police and to a lesser degree BTP, if it is deemed appropriate. Terrorist incidents and complex murder enquiries will almost always be investigated by the Met,[30][31] with the assistance of any relevant specialist force, even if they are committed on Ministry of Defence or railway property. A minor incursion into the normal jurisdiction of territorial police officers in England and Wales is that Met officers involved in the protection duties of the Royal Family and other VIPs have full police powers in Scotland and Northern Ireland in connection with those duties.[32]
Shared Support Services (part of Met headquarters)
Each is overseen by an assistant commissioner or, in the case of administrative departments, a director of police staff, which is the equivalent civilian staff grade. The management board is made up of the commissioner, deputy commissioner, assistant commissioners and directors.
Met Police officers on the streets of Soho. Since 1863, the custodian helmet (middle) has been worn by male police constables and sergeants while on foot patrol.
The Metropolitan Police Service uses the standard British police ranks, indicated by epaulettes, up to chief superintendent, but uniquely has five ranks above that level instead of the standard three; namely commander, deputy assistant commissioner, assistant commissioner, deputy commissioner and commissioner.[34] All senior officers of the rank of Commander and above are chief police officers of NPCC (previously ACPO) rank.
The Met approved the use of name badges in October 2003, with new recruits wearing the Velcro badges from September 2004. The badge consists of the wearer's rank, followed by their surname.[35] All officers are assigned a unique identification number which includes a two-letter BCU (Basic Command Unit) code.
Following controversy over assaults by uniformed officers with concealed shoulder identification numbers during the G20 summit,[36] Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said, "the public has a right to be able to identify any uniformed officer whilst performing their duty" by their shoulder identification numbers.[37]
Insigniaedit
The Met uniformed officer rank structure, with epaulette design, is as follows (from highest to lowest):
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". Detective ranks are equivalent in rank to their uniform counterparts. Other departments, such as Special Branch and Child Protection, award non-detectives "branch detective" status, allowing them to use the "Detective" prefix. None of these detective ranks confer on the holder any extra pay or supervisory authority compared to their uniformed colleagues.
Workforceedit
The following is the current released workforce data for the ranks. The chief officers rank covers all senior ranks as well as special constables covering all special constable ranks.
On a wreath Argent and Azure, three arrows, one in pale and two in saltire, barbs downward, Proper, banded Azure and ensigned by the Royal Crown proper.
Escutcheon
Azure, a portcullis chained within a double tressure flory counterflory Argent.
Supporters
On either side a lion rampant guardant Argent, gorged with a collar Azure charged alternately with bezants and bees volant, grasping in the interior paw a column Or.
Badge
A roundel azure, thereon the Royal Cypher of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second argent within a circlet azure fimbriated and inscribed with words 'Metropolitan Police' in letters argent, the whole upon a star of eight major and fifty-six lesser points argent, ensigned by the Royal Crown proper.
The Metropolitan Police Service includes full-time, paid officers known as 'regulars', and part-time, voluntary officers from the Metropolitan Special Constabulary. Both regulars and specials enjoy full police powers, wear the same uniform, and carry the same kit.
Police officers (special – of all ranks): 1,445[61]
Staff and PCSOsedit
The Met's Police Staff are non-warranted civilians, including police community support officers (PCSOs), designated detention officers (DDOs), and many other civilian roles.[63] The Met was the first constabulary to introduce PCSOs. Unlike other police staff, police officers in the Met (as elsewhere in the UK) are not employees, but rather Crown servants, and holders of the Office of Constable. Their numbers are currently:
Police Community Support Officers (PCSO): 1,254[61]
Various Metropolitan Police vehicles attending a protest in 2021A restored Rover SD1 traffic car in the Metropolitan Police's 'jam sandwich' livery first introduced in 1978
As of 2023[update], the Met operates and maintains a fleet of around 5,200 vehicles.[64] In 2018, the fleet covered 46,777,720 miles (75,281,440 km).[65] The fleet comprises numerous vehicles, including:[66]
Incident response vehicles (IRV): attached to the various Basic Command Units (BCU) of the Metropolitan Police area, used for frontline policing duties such as patrol and emergency response.
Q-cars: covert unmarked vehicles, belonging to a variety of departments.
Armed response vehicle (ARV): Transports authorised firearms officers trained to use firearms to deal with incidents involving deadly weapons.
Traffic units: respond to traffic accidents on major roads, enforce traffic laws and encourage road safety.
Scrambler bikes: used by Operation Venice officers to combat moped gangs.[67]
Collision investigation units (CIU): respond to and appropriately investigate all major road traffic collisions.
Protected carriers: used for public order duties.
Personnel carriers: used to transport numerous officers on patrol and to incidents, as well as non-violent public order situations.
Station vans: used to transport both officers and suspects in a cage in the rear of the van.
Commercial vehicle units: used to respond to incidents involving commercial vehicles.
CBRN units: used to mitigate chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents. These are identified by a large amount of equipment lockers on newer vans and a large array of detecting equipment on the top of older vans.
Control units: used for incident command and control purposes.
Armoured multi-role vehicles: used for public order duties, airport and counter-terrorism duties, or as required.
General purpose vehicles: used for general support and transportation duties of officers or equipment.
Training vehicles: used to train police drivers.
Miscellaneous vehicles: such as horseboxes and trailers.
The majority of vehicles have a service life of three to five years; the Met replaces or upgrades between 800 and 1,000 vehicles each year. Vehicles are maintained and repaired on contract by Babcock International; from November 2023, the contract for 3,700 of the Met's 5,200 vehicles will be undertaken by Rivus Fleet Solutions for a ten-year period.[64]
By 2012, the Met was marking all new marked vehicles with Battenburg markings, a highly reflective material on the side of the vehicles, chequered blue and yellow green for the police, and in other colours for other services.[68] The old livery was an orange stripe through the vehicle, with the force's logo, known colloquially as the 'jam sandwich', which was first introduced in 1978 with the delivery of high-performance Rover SD1 traffic cars.[69] Originally, marked vehicles were finished in base white paint; this was changed to silver from 2002 to help improve a vehicle's resale value when it was retired from police use.[70]
Funding for the Metropolitan Police has been cut due to austerity. Changes in the way the government pays for police pensions will lead to further cuts.[71] Its expenditure for single years, not adjusted for inflation, has been:[72]
A Jankel Guardian Counter-Terrorist Assault Vehicle, based on the Ford F450 – utilised for airport patrols, counter-terrorism and public order situationsA marine policing unit on the River ThamesProtection Command – This command is split into two branches: Royalty and Specialist Protection (RASP) and Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP). RaSP provides personal armed protection for the Royal family, Prime Minister and other ministers, ambassadors and visiting heads of state. PaDP is responsible for providing armed officers to protect the Palace of Westminster, important residences such as Downing Street and the many embassies found located in London. Royal Palaces are the responsibility of RaSP.[76] The Special Escort Group (SEG) are responsible for escorting the Royal Family, Prime Minister and other ministers, ambassadors and visiting heads of state, and occasionally prisoner transport.
Flying Squad – A unit which investigates and intercepts armed robberies. The name comes from the fact its members travelled across divisional and borough boundaries.
Roads and Transport Policing Command – Provides policing for the transport network in London, comprising numerous divisions: the Traffic Division, patrols the road, pursuing fleeing suspects and enforcing speed, safety, and drink driving;[78] the Road Crime Team focuses on dangerous drivers, priority roads, uninsured vehicles and 'fatal four' offences;[79] the Safer Transport Team (STT) provide a policing presence on Transport for London's buses and investigates most crimes committed on them.
Specialist Firearms Command – (SCO19) Responsible for providing armed response and support across the whole of London with Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO) travelling in ARVs (Armed Response Vehicles) responding to calls involving firearms and weapons. SCO19 has a number of CTSFOs (Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers), who have additional training.[80]
Dog Support Unit – (DSU) Provides highly trained dogs and police handlers. They are trained to detect drugs and firearms, respond to searches, missing people, and fleeing suspects. Bomb-detection dogs are also used for specific duties.[81] As of 2015 the unit had around 250 police dogs.[82]
Marine Policing Unit – (MPU) Provides policing on the waterways of London, responding to situations in the River Thames and tracking and stopping illegal vessels entering and exiting London.[83]
Mounted Branch – Provides policing on horseback in London. One of their duties is escorting the Royal Guard down The Mall, into and out of Buckingham Palace every morning from April to July, then occasionally through the remainder of the year. They also provide public order support and are commonly called to police football matches in the event of any unrest. All officers are trained in public order tactics on horseback.[84] As of 2010 the Branch had 120 police horses.[85]
Police Support Unit (PSU) – Trained to deal with a variety of public order situations outside the remit or capability of regular divisional officers.[86]
Territorial Support Group (TSG) – Highly trained officers, specialised in public order and large-scale riots responding around London in marked Public Order Vehicles (POV) with 6 constables and a sergeant in each POV. They aim to secure the capital against terrorism, respond to any disorder in London, and reduce priority crime through borough support. They respond in highly protective uniform during riots or large disorder, protecting themselves from any thrown objects or hazards.[87]
Violent Crime Task Force (VCTF) – Formed in April 2018, the VCTF is a pan-London proactive response team to knife and serious violent crime, made up of 300 ring-fenced and dedicated police officers who solely focus on violent crime, weapon-enabled crime and serious criminality.[88]
Operation Venice – Formed in 2017 to deal with record-breaking moped crime in London, but also tackles different types of robbery trends; the Scorpion Team consists of highly skilled drivers and riders who were given a green light to instigate tactical contact against moped and motorbikes involved in criminality.[89]
A traditional blue lamp as seen outside most police stations.
Stationsedit
In addition to the headquarters at New Scotland Yard, there are many police stations in London.[90] 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. In 2017, there were 73 working front counters open to the public in London.[91] Most police stations can easily be identified from one or more blue lamps located outside the entrance, which were introduced in 1861.
The oldest Metropolitan police station, which opened in Bow Street in 1881, closed in 1992 and the adjoining Bow Street Magistrates' Court heard its last case on 14 July 2006.[92] One of the oldest operational police stations in London is in Wapping, which opened in 1908. It is the headquarters of the marine policing unit (formerly known as Thames Division), which is responsible for policing the River Thames. It also houses a mortuary and the River Police Museum. Paddington Green Police Station, which is no longer operational, received much publicity for its housing of terrorism suspects in an underground complex prior to its closure in 2017.
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 police forces and the wider community.[93]
The following table shows the percentage detection rates for the Metropolitan Police by offence group for 2010/11.[96]
Total
Violence against the person
Sexual offences
Robbery
Burglary
Offences against vehicles
Other theft offences
Fraud and forgery
Criminal damage
Drug offences
Other offences
Metropolitan Police
24
35
23
17
11
5
14
16
13
91
63
England and Wales
28
44
30
21
13
11
22
24
14
94
69
The Metropolitan Police Service "screened out" 34,164 crimes the day they were reported in 2017 and did not investigate them further. This compares to 13,019 the previous year. 18,093 crimes were closed in 24 hours during the first 5 months of 2018 making it likely that the 2017 total will be exceeded. Crimes not being investigated include sexual assaults and arson, burglaries, thefts and assaults. Some critics believe this shows the effect of austerity on the force's ability to carry out its responsibilities.[97]
Controversiesedit
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The Met was controversial even before its formation in 1829. Since the 1970s, such controversies have often centred on institutional racism and institutional sexism within the organisation, along with the right to protest,[a] failures in investigations,[b] and officers belonging to proscribed organisations.[c]
In 2023, a report on the Metropolitan Police found that the organisation was rife with racism, misogyny, and homophobia, and was corrupt. A 363-page report written by Louise Casey, Baroness Casey of Blackstock was commissioned after the abduction of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, a police constable. The report stated that 12% of female Met employees had been harassed or attacked, with 33% experiencing sexism. Other incidents include a Muslim officer who had bacon stuffed into his boots and a Sikh officer whose beard was cut. The report also found that officers of minority ethnic backgrounds were more likely to be disciplined and leave the force.[101] The report was criticised by the charity Galop for not investigating transphobia.[102] Five former officers[who?] admitted in court in 2023 to sending racist messages, and the targets of the messages included the Duchess of Sussex. [103]
^In August 2023 Graham Smith issued a claim for judicial review against the Metropolitan police commissioner regarding Smith's arrest on the day of the king's coronation, when he was preparing to demonstrate against the monarchy.[98]
^In December 2021, an inquest jury ruled that the deaths in 2014–2015 of serial killer Stephen Port's final three victims was due in part to the Met Police's failings. The inquest found that the Met "failed to carry out basic checks, send evidence to be forensically examined, and exercise professional curiosity while Port was embarking on his killing spree".[99]
^In April 2021 an early-career Metropolitan police officer, Ben Hannam, was found guilty of being a member of a banned neo-Nazi terrorist group.[100]
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External linksedit
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Not to be confused with City of London Police For other metropolitan police departments see Metropolitan Police disambiguation The Metropolitan Police Service MPS formerly and still commonly referred to as the Metropolitan Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement and the prevention of crime within the ceremonial county of Greater London In addition it is responsible for some specialised matters throughout the United Kingdom including national counter terrorism measures and the protection of specific people such as the monarch and other members of the royal family members of the government 10 and other officials Metropolitan Police ServiceLogoBadgeFlag used during the reign of Elizabeth IICommon nameThe Met 1 AbbreviationMPS 2 Agency overviewFormed29 September 1829 194 years ago 1829 09 29 3 Preceding agenciesBow Street Runners 4 Thames River Police 5 Employees43 571 in total 6 32 493 police officers 6 9 816 police staff 6 1 262 PCSOs 6 Volunteers1 858 special constables1 500 police support volunteers3 658 volunteer police cadetsAnnual budget 4 43 billion 7 Legal personalityPolice forceJurisdictional structureOperations jurisdictionGreater LondonMap of police areaSize1 578 km2 609 sq mi Population8 95 million 2019 20 8 Legal jurisdictionEngland and Wales throughout the whole of the United Kingdom including Scotland and Northern Ireland under certain limited circumstances Primary governing bodyMayor s Office for Policing and CrimeSecondary governing bodyHome OfficeConstituting instrumentsMetropolitan Police Act 1829Metropolitan Police Act 1839Police Act 1996General natureLocal civilian policeOperational structureOverviewed byHis Majesty s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire amp Rescue Services Independent Office for Police ConductHeadquartersNew Scotland Yard Westminster London EnglandPolice officers32 493 full time1 858 special constablesPCSOs1 262Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime responsibleSophie LindenAgency executivesSir Mark Rowley Commissioner of Police of the MetropolisDame Lynne Owens 9 Deputy Commissioner of Police of the MetropolisWebsitewww wbr met wbr police wbr ukThe main geographical area of responsibilities the Metropolitan Police District consists of the 32 London boroughs 11 but does not include the City of London proper the central financial district which is policed by a separate force the City of London Police As the force responsible for the capital of the United Kingdom the Met has significant unique responsibilities and challenges such as protecting 164 foreign embassies and High Commissions 12 policing London City and Heathrow airports protecting the Palace of Westminster and dealing with significantly more protests and events than any other British force with 3 500 such events in 2016 12 The force by officer numbers is the largest in the United Kingdom by a significant margin and one of the biggest in the world 13 Leaving its national responsibilities aside the Met has the eighth smallest police area primary geographic area of responsibility of the territorial police forces in the United Kingdom The force is led by the commissioner whose formal title is the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis The commissioner is answerable to the Home Office and the Mayor of London through the Mayor s Office for Policing and Crime The post of commissioner was first held jointly by Sir Charles Rowan and Sir Richard Mayne Sir Mark Rowley is the current commissioner he succeeded Acting Commissioner Sir Stephen House in July 2022 14 A number of informal names are used for the service most commonly the Met It is also referred to as Scotland Yard or the Yard after the location of its original headquarters in a road called Great Scotland Yard in Whitehall 15 The Met s current headquarters is New Scotland Yard on the Victoria Embankment 16 Contents 1 History 2 Governance 3 Police area and other forces 4 Organisation and structure 5 Ranks 5 1 Insignia 5 2 Workforce 6 Arms 7 Police officers 7 1 Historic numbers 7 2 Present numbers 8 Staff and PCSOs 9 Resources 9 1 Fleet 9 2 Budget 9 3 Specialist units 9 4 Stations 10 Statistics 10 1 Crime figures 10 2 Detection rates 11 Controversies 12 See also 13 Notes 14 References 15 External linksHistory editMain article History of the Metropolitan Police This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it September 2022 The Metropolitan Police Service was founded in 1829 by Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel under the Metropolitan Police Act 1829 and on 29 September of that year the first constables of the service appeared on the streets of London 17 Ten years later Metropolitan Police Act 1839 consolidated policing within London by expanding the Metropolitan Police District and either abolishing or amalgamating the various other law enforcement entities within London into the Metropolitan Police such as the Thames River Police and the Bow Street Runners 18 19 Governance editSince January 2012 the Mayor of London is responsible for the governance of the Metropolitan Police through the Mayor s Office for Policing and Crime MOPAC 20 The mayor is able to appoint someone to act on his behalf As of April 2019 update the office holder is the deputy mayor for policing and crime Sophie Linden 21 The work of MOPAC is scrutinised by the Police and Crime Committee also known as a police and crime panel of the London Assembly These structures were created by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and replaced the Metropolitan Police Authority appointed board created in 2000 by Greater London Authority Act 1999 Before 2000 the Metropolitan Police was under the authority of the Home Secretary the only British territorial police force to be administered by central government The Metropolitan Police Office MPO although based at Scotland Yard was a department of the Home Office created in 1829 and was responsible for the force s day to day administration Under the authority of the receiver a civilian official who was equivalent in rank to the deputy commissioner and served as the force s chief financial officer it was headed by a civilian secretary who was equivalent in rank to the assistant commissioners 22 Police area and other forces editThe area policed by the Metropolitan Police Service is known as the Metropolitan Police District MPD The Met was divided into 32 Borough Operational Command Units that directly aligned with the 32 London boroughs covered This situation has changed since 2017 as the Met has attempted to save money due to cuts in funding The MPD is now divided into 12 Basic Command Units BCUs made up of two three or four boroughs There is criticism of these changes 23 The City of London which is not a London borough is a separate police area and is the responsibility of the separate City of London Police nbsp New Scotland Yard is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police The Ministry of Defence Police is responsible for policing of Ministry of Defence property throughout the United Kingdom including its headquarters in Whitehall and other MoD establishments across the MPD 24 The British Transport Police BTP are responsible for policing of the rail network in Great Britain including London Within London they are also responsible for the policing of the London Underground London Trams the London Cable Car and the Docklands Light Railway 25 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 2004 and those parks are now policed by the Royal Parks Operational Command Unit 26 There is also a small park police force the Kew Constabulary responsible for the Royal Botanic Gardens whose officers have full police powers within the park A few local authorities maintain their own borough park constabularies including Wandsworth Parks and Events Police Kensington and Chelsea Parks Police Havering Parks Constabulary and the Hampstead Heath Constabulary All of these enjoy powers of arrest without warrant as constables 27 however the officers of the latter have full police powers much like officers of the Metropolitan Police on the Heath The other parks police primarily focus on by law enforcement Metropolitan Police officers have legal jurisdiction throughout all of England and Wales including areas that have their own special police forces such as the Ministry of Defence as do all police officers of territorial police forces 28 Officers also have limited powers in Scotland and Northern Ireland 29 Within the MPD the Met will take over the investigation of any serious crime from the Ministry of Defence Police and to a lesser degree BTP if it is deemed appropriate Terrorist incidents and complex murder enquiries will almost always be investigated by the Met 30 31 with the assistance of any relevant specialist force even if they are committed on Ministry of Defence or railway property A minor incursion into the normal jurisdiction of territorial police officers in England and Wales is that Met officers involved in the protection duties of the Royal Family and other VIPs have full police powers in Scotland and Northern Ireland in connection with those duties 32 Organisation and structure editMain article Organisation and structure of the Metropolitan Police Service The Metropolitan Police Service is organised into the following directorates 33 Frontline Policing Met Operations Specialist Operations Professionalism Shared Support Services part of Met headquarters Each is overseen by an assistant commissioner or in the case of administrative departments a director of police staff which is the equivalent civilian staff grade The management board is made up of the commissioner deputy commissioner assistant commissioners and directors Ranks editSee also Police ranks of the United Kingdom nbsp Met Police officers on the streets of Soho Since 1863 the custodian helmet middle has been worn by male police constables and sergeants while on foot patrol The Metropolitan Police Service uses the standard British police ranks indicated by epaulettes up to chief superintendent but uniquely has five ranks above that level instead of the standard three namely commander deputy assistant commissioner assistant commissioner deputy commissioner and commissioner 34 All senior officers of the rank of Commander and above are chief police officers of NPCC previously ACPO rank The Met approved the use of name badges in October 2003 with new recruits wearing the Velcro badges from September 2004 The badge consists of the wearer s rank followed by their surname 35 All officers are assigned a unique identification number which includes a two letter BCU Basic Command Unit code Following controversy over assaults by uniformed officers with concealed shoulder identification numbers during the G20 summit 36 Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the public has a right to be able to identify any uniformed officer whilst performing their duty by their shoulder identification numbers 37 Insignia edit The Met uniformed officer rank structure with epaulette design is as follows from highest to lowest Metropolitan Police ranksRank Commissioner Deputy commissioner Assistant commissioner Deputy assistant commissioner Commander Chief superintendent Superintendent Chief inspector Inspector Sergeant ConstableEpaulette insignia nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp The Met also has several active Volunteer Police Cadet units which maintain their own internal rank structure 38 The Metropolitan Special Constabulary is a contingent of part time volunteer police officers and is attached to most Borough Operational Command Units The Metropolitan Special Constabulary Ranks are as follows from lowest to highest Metropolitan Police Special Constabulary RanksRank Special constable Special sergeant Special inspector Special chief inspector Assistant chief officer Chief officerEpaulette Insignia nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Notes Some of these ranks and epaulettes are not the same as other Special Constabulary ranks and insignia and only apply to the Metropolitan Police Reference 39 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 Detective ranks are equivalent in rank to their uniform counterparts Other departments such as Special Branch and Child Protection award non detectives branch detective status allowing them to use the Detective prefix None of these detective ranks confer on the holder any extra pay or supervisory authority compared to their uniformed colleagues Workforce edit The following is the current released workforce data for the ranks The chief officers rank covers all senior ranks as well as special constables covering all special constable ranks Metropolitan Police WorkforceRank Police staff Police support volunteer Designated Officer PCSO Special constable Constable Sergeant Inspector Chief inspector Superintendent Chief superintendent Chief officerFemale personnel 5285 468 340 478 530 7465 956 270 68 44 12 8Male personnel 3626 257 390 829 1330 17329 3526 935 232 147 45 26Total personnel 8911 725 730 1307 1860 24794 4482 1205 300 191 57 34Reference 2019 Police workforce open data tables 40 Arms editCoat of arms of Metropolitan Police nbsp Crest On a wreath Argent and Azure three arrows one in pale and two in saltire barbs downward Proper banded Azure and ensigned by the Royal Crown proper Escutcheon Azure a portcullis chained within a double tressure flory counterflory Argent Supporters On either side a lion rampant guardant Argent gorged with a collar Azure charged alternately with bezants and bees volant grasping in the interior paw a column Or nbsp BadgeA roundel azure thereon the Royal Cypher of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second argent within a circlet azure fimbriated and inscribed with words Metropolitan Police in letters argent the whole upon a star of eight major and fifty six lesser points argent ensigned by the Royal Crown proper Police officers edit nbsp Metropolitan Police officers wearing traditional custodian helmets nbsp Met officers alongside British Transport Police on mutual aid at a G20 protest in 2009 nbsp Armed DPG police officers Downing Street gates 2014The Metropolitan Police Service includes full time paid officers known as regulars and part time voluntary officers from the Metropolitan Special Constabulary Both regulars and specials enjoy full police powers wear the same uniform and carry the same kit Historic numbers edit 1852 5 625 41 1866 6 839 42 1877 10 336 43 1887 14 191 44 1912 20 529 45 1929 19 290 46 1938 18 511 1944 17 976 47 1952 16 400 48 1965 18 016 49 1984 27 000 approximate 50 2001 25 000 approximate 51 2003 28 000 approximate 52 2004 31 000 approximate 52 2009 32 543 excluding 2 622 special constables 53 2010 33 260 excluding 3 125 special constables 54 2011 32 380 excluding 4 459 special constables 55 2013 30 398 excluding 5 303 special constables 56 2014 30 932 excluding 4 587 special constables 57 2015 31 877 58 2016 32 125 58 2017 30 817 59 2019 30 980 excluding 1 749 special constables 2020 32 766 excluding 1 874 special constables 60 include temporary constables from war period includes 753 officers policing Woolwich Arsenal and Her Majesty s Dockyards in Chatham Portsmouth Pembroke Devonport and Rosyth Present numbers edit Police officers regular of all ranks 34 363 61 Specially Trained Officers STO 7 615 62 Police officers special of all ranks 1 445 61 Staff and PCSOs editThe Met s Police Staff are non warranted civilians including police community support officers PCSOs designated detention officers DDOs and many other civilian roles 63 The Met was the first constabulary to introduce PCSOs Unlike other police staff police officers in the Met as elsewhere in the UK are not employees but rather Crown servants and holders of the Office of Constable Their numbers are currently Police Community Support Officers PCSO 1 254 61 Police staff designated detention officers 614 59 Police staff other 9 814 60 Resources editFleet edit nbsp Various Metropolitan Police vehicles attending a protest in 2021 nbsp A restored Rover SD1 traffic car in the Metropolitan Police s jam sandwich livery first introduced in 1978As of 2023 update the Met operates and maintains a fleet of around 5 200 vehicles 64 In 2018 the fleet covered 46 777 720 miles 75 281 440 km 65 The fleet comprises numerous vehicles including 66 Incident response vehicles IRV attached to the various Basic Command Units BCU of the Metropolitan Police area used for frontline policing duties such as patrol and emergency response Q cars covert unmarked vehicles belonging to a variety of departments Armed response vehicle ARV Transports authorised firearms officers trained to use firearms to deal with incidents involving deadly weapons Traffic units respond to traffic accidents on major roads enforce traffic laws and encourage road safety Motorcycles utilised by the Roads and Transport Policing Command and Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection for more agile patrol and response Scrambler bikes used by Operation Venice officers to combat moped gangs 67 Collision investigation units CIU respond to and appropriately investigate all major road traffic collisions Protected carriers used for public order duties Personnel carriers used to transport numerous officers on patrol and to incidents as well as non violent public order situations Station vans used to transport both officers and suspects in a cage in the rear of the van Commercial vehicle units used to respond to incidents involving commercial vehicles CBRN units used to mitigate chemical biological radiological and nuclear incidents These are identified by a large amount of equipment lockers on newer vans and a large array of detecting equipment on the top of older vans Control units used for incident command and control purposes Armoured multi role vehicles used for public order duties airport and counter terrorism duties or as required General purpose vehicles used for general support and transportation duties of officers or equipment Training vehicles used to train police drivers Miscellaneous vehicles such as horseboxes and trailers The majority of vehicles have a service life of three to five years the Met replaces or upgrades between 800 and 1 000 vehicles each year Vehicles are maintained and repaired on contract by Babcock International from November 2023 the contract for 3 700 of the Met s 5 200 vehicles will be undertaken by Rivus Fleet Solutions for a ten year period 64 By 2012 the Met was marking all new marked vehicles with Battenburg markings a highly reflective material on the side of the vehicles chequered blue and yellow green for the police and in other colours for other services 68 The old livery was an orange stripe through the vehicle with the force s logo known colloquially as the jam sandwich which was first introduced in 1978 with the delivery of high performance Rover SD1 traffic cars 69 Originally marked vehicles were finished in base white paint this was changed to silver from 2002 to help improve a vehicle s resale value when it was retired from police use 70 The National Police Air Service provides helicopter support to the Met A marine policing unit operates 22 vessels from its base in Wapping Budget edit Funding for the Metropolitan Police has been cut due to austerity Changes in the way the government pays for police pensions will lead to further cuts 71 Its expenditure for single years not adjusted for inflation has been 72 Year Amount Notes1829 30 194 1261848 437 4411873 1 1 million1898 1 8 million1923 7 8 million1948 12 6 million1973 95 million1998 9 2 03 billion2011 12 3 69 billion 2 754 billion was spent on staff wages 73 74 2017 18 3 26 billion 75 Specialist units edit nbsp A Jankel Guardian Counter Terrorist Assault Vehicle based on the Ford F450 utilised for airport patrols counter terrorism and public order situations nbsp A marine policing unit on the River Thames Protection Command This command is split into two branches Royalty and Specialist Protection RASP and Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection PaDP RaSP provides personal armed protection for the Royal family Prime Minister and other ministers ambassadors and visiting heads of state PaDP is responsible for providing armed officers to protect the Palace of Westminster important residences such as Downing Street and the many embassies found located in London Royal Palaces are the responsibility of RaSP 76 The Special Escort Group SEG are responsible for escorting the Royal Family Prime Minister and other ministers ambassadors and visiting heads of state and occasionally prisoner transport Aviation Policing Command Responsible for providing policing with the majority being armed officers at Heathrow Airport and London City Airport 77 Flying Squad A unit which investigates and intercepts armed robberies The name comes from the fact its members travelled across divisional and borough boundaries Trident Gang Crime Command Investigates and works to prevent gang crime Roads and Transport Policing Command Provides policing for the transport network in London comprising numerous divisions the Traffic Division patrols the road pursuing fleeing suspects and enforcing speed safety and drink driving 78 the Road Crime Team focuses on dangerous drivers priority roads uninsured vehicles and fatal four offences 79 the Safer Transport Team STT provide a policing presence on Transport for London s buses and investigates most crimes committed on them Specialist Firearms Command SCO19 Responsible for providing armed response and support across the whole of London with Authorised Firearms Officers AFO travelling in ARVs Armed Response Vehicles responding to calls involving firearms and weapons SCO19 has a number of CTSFOs Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers who have additional training 80 Dog Support Unit DSU Provides highly trained dogs and police handlers They are trained to detect drugs and firearms respond to searches missing people and fleeing suspects Bomb detection dogs are also used for specific duties 81 As of 2015 the unit had around 250 police dogs 82 Marine Policing Unit MPU Provides policing on the waterways of London responding to situations in the River Thames and tracking and stopping illegal vessels entering and exiting London 83 Mounted Branch Provides policing on horseback in London One of their duties is escorting the Royal Guard down The Mall into and out of Buckingham Palace every morning from April to July then occasionally through the remainder of the year They also provide public order support and are commonly called to police football matches in the event of any unrest All officers are trained in public order tactics on horseback 84 As of 2010 the Branch had 120 police horses 85 Police Support Unit PSU Trained to deal with a variety of public order situations outside the remit or capability of regular divisional officers 86 Territorial Support Group TSG Highly trained officers specialised in public order and large scale riots responding around London in marked Public Order Vehicles POV with 6 constables and a sergeant in each POV They aim to secure the capital against terrorism respond to any disorder in London and reduce priority crime through borough support They respond in highly protective uniform during riots or large disorder protecting themselves from any thrown objects or hazards 87 Violent Crime Task Force VCTF Formed in April 2018 the VCTF is a pan London proactive response team to knife and serious violent crime made up of 300 ring fenced and dedicated police officers who solely focus on violent crime weapon enabled crime and serious criminality 88 Operation Venice Formed in 2017 to deal with record breaking moped crime in London but also tackles different types of robbery trends the Scorpion Team consists of highly skilled drivers and riders who were given a green light to instigate tactical contact against moped and motorbikes involved in criminality 89 nbsp A traditional blue lamp as seen outside most police stations Stations edit In addition to the headquarters at New Scotland Yard there are many police stations in London 90 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 In 2017 there were 73 working front counters open to the public in London 91 Most police stations can easily be identified from one or more blue lamps located outside the entrance which were introduced in 1861 The oldest Metropolitan police station which opened in Bow Street in 1881 closed in 1992 and the adjoining Bow Street Magistrates Court heard its last case on 14 July 2006 92 One of the oldest operational police stations in London is in Wapping which opened in 1908 It is the headquarters of the marine policing unit formerly known as Thames Division which is responsible for policing the River Thames It also houses a mortuary and the River Police Museum Paddington Green Police Station which is no longer operational received much publicity for its housing of terrorism suspects in an underground complex prior to its closure in 2017 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 police forces and the wider community 93 Statistics editCrime figures edit See also Crime in London Crimes reported within the Metropolitan Police District selected by quarter centuries 94 1829 30 20 000 1848 15 000 1873 20 000 1898 18 838 1923 15 383 1948 126 597 1973 355 258 1998 9 934 254 2017 18 827 225 95 Detection rates edit The following table shows the percentage detection rates for the Metropolitan Police by offence group for 2010 11 96 Total Violence against the person Sexual offences Robbery Burglary Offences against vehicles Other theft offences Fraud and forgery Criminal damage Drug offences Other offencesMetropolitan Police 24 35 23 17 11 5 14 16 13 91 63England and Wales 28 44 30 21 13 11 22 24 14 94 69The Metropolitan Police Service screened out 34 164 crimes the day they were reported in 2017 and did not investigate them further This compares to 13 019 the previous year 18 093 crimes were closed in 24 hours during the first 5 months of 2018 making it likely that the 2017 total will be exceeded Crimes not being investigated include sexual assaults and arson burglaries thefts and assaults Some critics believe this shows the effect of austerity on the force s ability to carry out its responsibilities 97 Controversies editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it November 2023 See also History of the Metropolitan Police Institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police and Institutional sexism in the Metropolitan Police The Met was controversial even before its formation in 1829 Since the 1970s such controversies have often centred on institutional racism and institutional sexism within the organisation along with the right to protest a failures in investigations b and officers belonging to proscribed organisations c In 2023 a report on the Metropolitan Police found that the organisation was rife with racism misogyny and homophobia and was corrupt A 363 page report written by Louise Casey Baroness Casey of Blackstock was commissioned after the abduction of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens a police constable The report stated that 12 of female Met employees had been harassed or attacked with 33 experiencing sexism Other incidents include a Muslim officer who had bacon stuffed into his boots and a Sikh officer whose beard was cut The report also found that officers of minority ethnic backgrounds were more likely to be disciplined and leave the force 101 The report was criticised by the charity Galop for not investigating transphobia 102 Five former officers who admitted in court in 2023 to sending racist messages and the targets of the messages included the Duchess of Sussex 103 See also edit nbsp London portal2010 United Kingdom student protests Bent Coppers 2003 non fiction book that examines police corruption within the MPS Crimint Hendon Police College Institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police Institutional sexism in the Metropolitan Police London Emergency Services Liaison Panel The Met Policing London List of British police officers killed in the line of duty Metropolitan police role in phone hacking scandal News International phone hacking scandal Police Forces of the United Kingdom Police National E Crime Unit Project Griffin Regal Olga and Upstart three MPS horses decorated for bravery during the Blitz Royal National Lifeboat Institution Other London emergency services London s Air Ambulance Charity London Ambulance Service London Fire Brigade City of London PoliceNotes edit In August 2023 Graham Smith issued a claim for judicial review against the Metropolitan police commissioner regarding Smith s arrest on the day of the king s coronation when he was preparing to demonstrate against the monarchy 98 In December 2021 an inquest jury ruled that the deaths in 2014 2015 of serial killer Stephen Port s final three victims was due in part to the Met Police s failings The inquest found that the Met failed to carry out basic checks send evidence to be forensically examined and exercise professional curiosity while Port was embarking on his killing spree 99 In April 2021 an early career Metropolitan police officer Ben Hannam was found guilty of being a member of a banned neo Nazi terrorist group 100 References edit Metropolitan Police Service Homepage Metropolitan Police 2 April 2009 Archived from the original on 8 July 2017 Retrieved 6 May 2009 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Retrieved 13 June 2010 Disturbances in Tottenham Tottenham Hale and Wood Green Saturday 6th Sunday 7th August 2011 PDF University of St Andrews Archived PDF from the original on 25 February 2022 Retrieved 14 October 2021 Home The Met content met police uk Archived from the original on 26 November 2016 Retrieved 3 December 2016 Metropolitan Police Service Business Plan progress update 2018 19 Quarter 1 April to June 2018 PDF Metropolitan Police Service Archived PDF from the original on 5 March 2022 Retrieved 14 October 2021 Freedom of information request reference no 01 FOI 22 022955 Met Police May 2022 Met Police stations A Z Directory Metropolitan Police Archived from the original on 5 February 2009 Retrieved 8 June 2009 Half of London police stations to close BBC News 14 July 2017 Archived from the original on 3 November 2018 Retrieved 24 September 2018 BBC Bow Street court closes its doors BBC News 14 July 2006 Archived from the original on 3 August 2020 Retrieved 8 June 2009 Institute for Public Policy Research Re inventing the police station Archived 27 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine Fido Martin Keith Skinner 2000 Official Encyclopedia of Scotland Yard Virgin p 57 ISBN 978 1 85227 712 3 Knife crime rises in England and Wales as London murders surge Archived from the original on 24 September 2018 Retrieved 24 September 2018 Home Office July 2011 Crimes detected in England and Wales 2010 11 Archived 7 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine See Excel file for Police force area tables Met police dropped 30 000 criminal investigations in first 24 hours last year Archived 9 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian Boffey Daniel 12 September 2023 Anti monarchy protester suing Met chief over coronation day arrest theguardian com Guardian Retrieved 12 September 2023 Stephen Port Met Police failings led to more deaths BBC News 10 December 2021 Archived from the original on 10 December 2021 Retrieved 10 December 2021 Met police officer guilty of belonging to banned neo Nazi group The Guardian 1 April 2021 Archived from the original on 1 April 2021 Retrieved 1 April 2021 Dodd Vikram 21 March 2023 Met police found to be institutionally racist misogynistic and homophobic The Guardian Retrieved 21 March 2023 Galop s statement on institutionalised homophobia and transphobia in the Met Police Met Police Ex officers admit sending racist WhatsApp messages BBC News 7 September 2023 Retrieved 7 September 2023 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Metropolitan Police Official website nbsp Metropolitan Police at His Majesty s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire amp Rescue Services Inspector Denning Victorian Police in Westminster UK Parliament Living Heritage Parliamentary Archives Records of the Metropolitan Police Archived 15 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Metropolitan Police amp oldid 1188436443, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
