Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), commonly known as the Metropolitan Police, Met Police, or the "Met", is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement and crime prevention within Greater London. It is one of the oldest and most important police forces in the world. The Met also has special duties across the entire United Kingdom, such as dealing with counter-terrorism throughout the UK and protecting important people like the monarch, royal family, and governmental officials.

The area the Met covers is called the Metropolitan Police District and includes all 32 London boroughs, but not the City of London, which has its own police force, the City of London Police. Because it serves the capital city, the Met has many big tasks. It protects important places such as 164 foreign embassies and High Commissions, keeps order at London City and Heathrow airports, guards the Palace of Westminster, and manages thousands of protests and big events every year.

With the most police officers of any force in the United Kingdom, the Met is the largest police service in the country. It is led by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, who reports to the mayor of London and works with groups like the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime and the Home Office. The first commissioners were Sir Charles Rowan and Sir Richard Mayne, and today the role is held by Sir Mark Rowley.

History

Main article: History of the Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police Service was started in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel. On September 29, 1829, the first police officers began patrolling the streets of London. Later, in 1839, more laws helped bring all police work in London together under one group, including the Thames River Police and the Bow Street Runners.

Governance

Since January 2012, the Mayor of London has overseen the Metropolitan Police through the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). The mayor can choose someone to represent them in this role. As of November 2024, this position is held by the deputy mayor for policing and crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz. The work of MOPAC is reviewed by the Police and Crime Committee of the London Assembly.

Before 2000, the Metropolitan Police reported to the Home Secretary, making it the only British territorial police force managed by central government. The Metropolitan Police Office (MPO), located at Scotland Yard, was part of the Home Office and handled daily operations. It was led by a civilian secretary and a receiver, who managed the force's finances.

Police area and other forces

The Metropolitan Police District is the area managed by the Metropolitan Police Service. It was once split into 32 units matching London's boroughs, but since 2017, it has been organized into 12 larger units to save money. The City of London Police handles policing in the City of London, which is separate from the rest of London.

Other police forces also work in the area. The Ministry of Defence Police looks after Ministry of Defence property across the UK. The British Transport Police takes care of the rail network, including London's London Underground, London Trams, London Cable Car, and the Docklands Light Railway. Some parks in London are patrolled by different police units, such as the Royal Parks Operational Command Unit and smaller groups like the Kew Constabulary.

Organisation and structure

Main article: Organisation and structure of the Metropolitan Police Service

The Metropolitan Police Service is divided into several main areas to help keep London safe. These include Frontline Policing for everyday policing, Met Operations for planning and support, and Specialist Operations for special tasks. Other areas like Professionalism and Shared Support Services help with training and support. Each area is led by an assistant commissioner or a director of police staff.

Ranks

The Metropolitan Police Service uses standard British police ranks up to chief superintendent. However, it has five special ranks above this level: commander, deputy assistant commissioner, assistant commissioner, deputy commissioner, and commissioner. All officers of these ranks are important leaders in police work.

Officers wear name badges showing their rank and surname, a rule started in 2003. Every officer also has a special number to help identify them. The police have volunteer groups like the Volunteer Police Cadet and the Metropolitan Special Constabulary, which have their own rank systems too.

Arms

The Metropolitan Police Service, often called the "Met", has a special role in keeping London safe and protecting important people like the monarch and government officials. It is also known as "Scotland Yard", named after the place where its first office was located long ago. The Met works on serious tasks such as preventing terrorism all across the United Kingdom.

Badge A roundel azure, thereon the Royal Cypher of His Majesty King Charles the Third 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

The Metropolitan Police Service has two types of officers: full-time, paid officers called 'regulars', and part-time, voluntary officers from the Metropolitan Special Constabulary. Both types have the same powers, wear the same uniform, and carry the same equipment. In the UK, "regulars" are not regular employees but are Crown servants and holders of the office of constable.

Over the years, the number of officers has changed. In 1852, there were 5,625 officers, and by 2025, this number had grown to 33,201 regular officers and 1,127 special constables.

Staff and PCSOs

The Metropolitan Police has staff who are not police officers. These people help with many important tasks. When the Met started in 1829, there were only a few staff members, but now there are many more. Today, there are special officers called police community support officers, or PCSOs, and other staff in different roles. Right now, there are 614 staff who work as detention officers and 9,814 staff in other jobs.

Resources

The Metropolitan Police has a large fleet of around 5,200 vehicles used for many purposes, such as patrolling, responding to emergencies, and providing traffic support. These vehicles include special cars for armed officers, motorcycles for quick response, and vans for transporting officers and suspects. They also have vehicles for investigating road accidents and for dealing with emergencies involving chemicals or radiation.

The Met has many specialist units that handle specific types of crime and situations. These include units for protecting important people like the royal family, policing airports, investigating robberies, and supporting public events. They also have units with police dogs for detecting drugs and searching for missing people, as well as officers who ride horses for crowd control and special duties.

Statistics

From 2015, the Metropolitan Police Service has published monthly "positive outcome" rates, which include various ways police deal with offenders, such as issuing warnings or charging them. Nationally, detection rates have been falling while reported crime numbers have been rising.

In 2024, a report found that the Met was rated inadequate or failing regarding crime investigations and managing offenders. It was rated as requiring improvement in five other areas, and as adequate in one.

Controversies

See also: History of the Metropolitan Police, Institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police, and Institutional sexism in the Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police has faced many controversies over the years. Since the 1970s, many of these issues have focused on claims of unfair treatment and mistakes in investigations.

One famous case was the investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, which many felt was handled poorly. In 2009, during protests in London, some officers were accused of using too much force. In 2023, a report showed that some officers used bad language and treated people unfairly, especially women and people from different backgrounds. These events have led to many discussions about how the police should improve.