Organisation and structure of the Metropolitan Police Service

Mounted MPS officer outside Buckingham Palace, London

The Metropolitan Police Service of Greater London is organised into four main directorates, each with differing responsibilities. These are Frontline Policing (formally Territorial Policing), Met Operations (formerly Specialist Crime & Operations), Specialist Operations and six civilian staffed support departments under the umbrella of Met Headquarters.[1] Each is overseen by an Assistant Commissioner, or in the case of a support department a director of police staff which is the equivalent civilian grade.

The Management Board, responsible for the strategic direction of the MPS is composed of the senior police leadership including the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, the four Assistant Commissioners (for Met Operations, Frontline Policing, Specialist Operations and Professionalism) and five directors.[2]

Leadership

The senior leadership rank-holders of the MPS currently are:[3][4]

  • Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis – Cressida Dick QPM [5]
  • Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis – Sir Craig Mackey QPM
  • Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu (responsible for Specialist Operations)
  • Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt (responsible for Frontline Policing)
  • Assistant Commissioner Sir Stephen House QPM (responsible for Met Operations)
  • Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball (responsible for Professionalism)
  • Assistant Commissioner Rob Beckley QPM (seconded to Operation Resolve)[6]
  • Director of Strategy and Governance – Roisha Hughes
  • Director People and Change – Robin Wilkinson
  • Director Commercial and Finance – Lynda McMullan
  • Director Legal Services – Steven Bramley
  • Director Media and Communications – James Helm
  • Director Digital Policing – Angus McCallum

The highest rank in the MPS is that of the Commissioner, the operational leader; however the MPS is accountable to the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime on a pan-London basis and the Home Secretary on a national policing basis.

Appointments to the most senior ranks of Assistant Commissioner and above are made in consultation with the Mayor of London and the Home Secretary, with the appointment of the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner being formally made by Her Majesty The Queen.[7]

Frontline Policing

The Frontline Policing Directorate, formerly known as Territorial Policing, is commanded by Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt who is responsible for providing the day-to-day local policing of Greater London, the police area defined in legislation as the Metropolitan Police District. Until 2018 the MPD was divided into 32 Borough Operational Command Units (BOCUs); with each London borough assigned a BOCU.[8] Each BOCU was commanded by a Chief Superintendent.

Each BOCU provided police officers (Regular and Specials) who were responsible for patrolling, and responding to emergencies. Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) were usually made up of both police officers (Regular and Specials) and PCSOs, responsible for policing a specific area within a BOCU. CID detectives were also attached to each BOCU providing a investigative capability.

In early 2018 it was announced that there would be a radical shake up of local policing in London, largely due to police funding constraints. Over the following 12 months all BOCUs would be merged with others to form 12 Basic Command Units (BCUs). This followed a trial of two 'pathfinder' BCUs, Central North BCU consisting of the old Islington BOCU with Camden BOCU and the East Area BCU consisting of the old Barking & Dagenham BOCU, Havering BOCU and Redbridge BOCU.[9]

The names of the new BCUs is yet to be confirmed, however the 12 BCUs would consist of the following boroughs:

  1. Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster
  2. Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Wandsworth
  3. Bromley, Croydon, Sutton
  4. Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham
  5. Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge
  6. Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow
  7. Lambeth, Southwark
  8. Enfield, Haringey
  9. Hackney, Tower Hamlets
  10. Camden, Islington
  11. Barnet, Brent, Harrow
  12. Newham, Waltham Forest

There has been significant concern raised in various quarters over these changes.[10][11][12]

The Royal Parks Operational Command Unit also comes under the remit of the Assistant Commissioner Frontline Policing.

Roads and Transport Policing Command

Incorporates the previous Safer Transport Command and Traffic Unit.

The Roads and Transport Policing Command oversees policing on London's road and transport network. It works in partnership with, and is significantly funded by, Transport for London to tackle transport related crime, improve road safety, reduce the number of traffic related injuries and deaths on London's roads.[13]

Number of officers per borough

Each BOCU has the following 'officer establishment' as of the end of February 2015.[14][15] The two letter code given in brackets for each borough is the identification code for that borough. Every Police Constable and Sergeant of that borough will have those letters on their epaulettes, as part of their shoulder number. [N.B: Special Constables are not counted in these officer figures].

Since early 2017 certain boroughs have merged to form areas. The idea behind this is to save money and deploy officers for efficiently across a greater area.

These officer strength figures only include officers assigned to London Boroughs and do not include those officers assigned to specific team(s) e.g. Central Operations or on assignment with other forces.

Note: numbers of officers for all ranks apart from constable include detectives. See source for full breakdown.

Specialist Crime and Operations

The Specialist Crime and Operations Directorate was formed by the amalgamation of the Specialist Crime Directorate and Central Operations giving dual responsibility to AC Rowley.[16]

As of 2016, the directorate is headed by Assistant Commissioner Patricia Gallan, three Deputy Assistant Commissioners and a further seven Commanders, and additional civilian staff.[17]

The Specialist Crime and Operations Directorate is made up of nine commands.

Pan London Taskforce

The Pan London Taskforce encompasses a variety of specialist policing units:

Homicide and Serious Crime

Are responsible for the investigation of homicide, such as: murder, attempted murder, and infanticide, which are all investigated by Murder Investigation Teams.[18] These teams also investigate missing persons and abduction cases, where there is substantive reason to suspect that life is in danger of being taken, or has been.[18] The Command also includes: the Homicide Task Force (which works to suppress 'man hunts' by members of the public), the Special Projects Investigation Unit which deals with other serious crime, Forensic Review Support and liaisons with the Crown Prosecution Service and the coroner.[18]

Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse

Investigates rape, other serious sexual offences[19] and crimes against minors, mainly, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The Command has nineteen Child Abuse Investigation Teams covering each borough, aiding local CID detectives, and are in close liaison with Social Services.[20] Within the Command, Major Investigations Teams exist which investigate child homicide, a sexual crime unit, a Hi-Tech Crime Unit which deals with computer investigations, the Safeguarding Children and Development Unit which educates against offences, and deals with after-care of victims, and the Ports Safeguarding Team which monitors London airports to ensure such offenders do not enter the country.[20]

Forensic Services

Responsible for providing an on call, forensic science capability for the 32 Borough Operational Command Units, along with the rest of the Service. Within the Command several smaller units exist, such as; Forensic Investigation Specialist Crime Directorate, which deals with forensic science capabilities on crime scenes that are within the remit of the SCD, such as homicide and armed robberies.[21]

Also responsible for the collection and archiving of fingerprints, made up of people currently living in the UK. Along with providing good clearance certificates to members of the public, who wish to travel to countries that require a good behaviour certificate before they are authorised to enter.[22]

Gangs and Organised Crime

Responsible for the investigations of serious, organised and life-threatening crimes. The command 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.[23]

Also investigates serious economic crime, through a number of specialist units, such as; the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit, the Money Laundering Investigation Team, Financial Investigation Development Units, the Specialist Crime Operations Team, the Stolen Vehicle Unit, the Arts and Antiques Unit, the Police Central e-crime Unit (PCeU), the Wildlife Crime Unit, the Extradition and International Assistance Unit, the Criminal Justice Protection Unit, and the Regional Asset Recovery Team.[24]

Incorporates Operation Trident which tackles gang violence in London.

Specialist Firearms Command (SCO19)

Specialist Firearms Command or SCO19 (previously SO19 then CO19) is responsible for providing a firearms-response capability, assisting the rest of the service, which is normally unarmed. Within the media it is occasionally compared to the SWAT units of the United States, being seen as London's equivalent.

Intelligence Command

Led by Commander Richard Martin this is a new command which was formed in order to deliver a single, joined up intelligence service to the Metropolitan Police Service.

The service is uniformly professionalised and the command owns all the Metropolitan Police Service intelligence professionals, including those who work in covert policing.

Specialist Operations

Specialist Operations (SO) is a directorate of the Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for providing specialist policing capabilities. Until Sir Kenneth Newman's restructuring of the Metropolitan Police, SO comprised twenty units, but after the restructuring most of them were absorbed by Central Operations (now Specialist Crime and Operations).

SO is currently headed by an Assistant Commissioner, with two Deputy Assistant Commissioners and a further three Commanders.[25]

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

SO is currently organised into three Commands:

Protection Command

Split into the following specialist operational areas:

Counter Terrorism Command (SO15)

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

Security Command

Security Command is currently headed by Commander Simon Bray.

  • Protective Security (SO20) - ensures that there are adequate protective security arrangements in place for major events, crowded places, iconic sites and that key utilities and sites where hazardous substances are located are securely protected.

Met Headquarters

  • Human Resources
  • Commercial and Finance
  • Portfolio and Planning
  • Legal Services
  • Media and Communications
  • Digital Policing
  • Shared Support Services[26]

Police officer strength by rank

The following table gives the police strength in the MPS by rank.

DateConstablesSergeantsInspectorsCh InspectorsSuperintendentsCh SuperintendentsACPO rankTotal
31 March 2010[27]24,7886,0691,695475217863733,367
31 March 2011[28]24,5955,5831,503448196813432,441
31 March 2012[29]24,3285,4941,641362201793532,140
31 March 2013[30]23,2834,9821,442452157723130,398
31 March 2014[31]24,4204,6441,235422109732930,932
31 March 2015[32]25,8514,3211,103333165762931,877
31 March 2016[33]25,7874,5481,261279159622932,125

As of June 2012, there were 40 officers of ACPO rank, namely the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, in addition to four Assistant Commissioners, ten Deputy Assistant Commissioners and a further 24 Commanders. There were also 14 members of Civilian Staff at the equivalent of Deputy Assistant Commissioner level.[34]

Employee numbers

The following table gives the employee numbers in the MPS.

Date Staff members PCSOs Police officers Total Special constables
31 March 201014,1794,64533,36752,1913,177
31 March 201113,6884,00932,44150,1384,944
31 March 201212,7512,76032,14047,6515,752
31 March 201312,3282,68430,39845,4105,303
31 March 201411,3032,08730,93244,3224,587
31 March 201510,5991,78731,87744,2633,659
31 March 20169,5211,62632,12543,2723,271

Film Unit

The MPS Film Unit was launched in 2006 [35] and manages the commercial filming schedule across London on behalf of local councils and major production companies including MGM as well as producers for various film and TV commercials. The Film Unit is based in Southwark and is maintained by current serving police officers. The Film Unit provides operational officers to ensure security for film companies and the general public. It is part of the Film London Partnership which is supported by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor Of London and Film London.[36]

Recent film productions requiring the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Service Film Unit
Films Television

References

  1. ↑ "Home - The Met". content.met.police.uk. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Home - The Met". content.met.police.uk. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  3. ↑ "About the Met - Senior Management Team". Metropolitan police. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Met Organisational chart February 2017" (PDF). Metropolitan police. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  5. ↑ "Cressida Dick makes history". Telegraph. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  6. ↑ Beckley, Rob. "Operation Resolve, The Command Team". Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "Home Office - police". homeoffice.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  8. ↑ "Metropolitan Police Service – Organisational Structure". Met.police.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  9. ↑ "Met announces changes to local policing". Mynewsdesk. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  10. ↑ "Nearly 1,500 people sign petition to 'save' Sutton police after controversial merger plans". News Shopper. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  11. ↑ "Borough-based policing commands to disappear in London-wide cost cutting plan | Eastlondonlines". Eastlondonlines. 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  12. ↑ "Met to merge all policing boroughs". BBC News. 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  13. ↑ "Roads and Transport Policing Command". www.met.police.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  14. ↑ WhatDoTheyKnow.com (31 March 2015). Freedom of Information request.
  15. ↑ WhatDoTheyKnow.com (9 April 2014). Freedom of Information request.
  16. ↑ "Counter Terrorism Evidence before the Home Affairs Select Committee from AC Cressida Dick: "Mr Rowley is taking on responsibility for both specialist crime and central operations, so we are, in effect, going down by one assistant commissioner. That is a positive decision by the Commissioner to create a different shape of the board"". 2012-01-12. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  17. ↑ "Metropolitan Police Service Leadership Structure, March 2012" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-31. .
  18. 1 2 3 "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  19. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  20. 1 2 "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  21. ↑ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  22. ↑ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  23. ↑ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  24. ↑ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  25. ↑ https://beta.met.police.uk/globalassets/downloads/about-the-met/met_organisational_chart_february2017.pdf
  26. ↑ "MPS Executive Structure". www.met.police.uk. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  27. ↑ http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/hosb1410/hosb1410?view=Binary
  28. ↑ http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/hosb1311/hosb1311?view=Binary
  29. ↑ http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/hosb0912/hosb0912?view=Binary
  30. ↑ Home Office (18 July 2013). Tables for 'Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2013'.
  31. ↑ Home Office (17 July 2014). Tables for 'Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2014'.
  32. ↑ Home Office (16 July 2015). Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2015: data tables.
  33. ↑ Home Office (21 July 2016). Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2016. See data tables. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  34. ↑ "Metropolitan Police Service Leadership Structure, June 2012" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  35. ↑ http://content.met.police.uk/Site/mpsfilmunit
  36. ↑ Policy for Filming in London, Metropolitan Police Service, accessed 25 October 2012

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