Organisation and structure of the Metropolitan Police explained

The Metropolitan Police of Greater London, England is organised into five main directorates, each headed by an Assistant Commissioner, and four civilian-staffed support departments previously under the umbrella of Met Headquarters, each headed by a Chief Officer, the equivalent civilian grade to Assistant Commissioner. Each business groups or directorate has differing responsibilities. The commands are Frontline Policing (formerly Territorial Policing), Met Operations (formerly Specialist Crime & Operations), Specialist Operations and Professionalism.[1]

The Management Board, responsible for the strategic direction of the MPS, is composed of the senior police leadership including the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, the five Assistant Commissioners (for Met Operations, Frontline Policing, Specialist Operations and Professionalism) and four Chief Officers.[1]

Leadership

the senior leadership rank-holders of the MPS are:[2] [3]

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 the monarch.[4] Rebecca George and Brian Paddick were added as non-executive directors in October 2023.[5]

Frontline Policing

The Frontline Policing Directorate, formerly known as Territorial Policing, is commanded by Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, who is responsible for providing the day-to-day local policing of Greater London (excluding the City of London), the police area defined in legislation as the Metropolitan Police District.

Basic Command Unit (BCU)

Historically the Metropolitan Police District's territory was divided into divisions grouped into districts and later divisions grouped into areas. In 2000 this was replaced by a system of one Borough Operational Command Unit (BOCU) for each of the 32 post-1965 London boroughs, each commanded by a chief superintendent.[6] In early 2018, largely due to police funding constraints, it was announced that there would be a radical shake up of local policing in London to replace the BOCUs established in 2000. Over the following 12 months each of the 32 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 and Camden BOCUs, and the East Area BCU consisting of the old Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge BOCUs.[7]

Each BCU is provided with:

Responsible for investigating serious and complex investigations outside of the remit of Safer Neighbourhoods or Response. Also has an oversight for serious developing incidents, such as kidnaps, stabbings, and shootings.

The 12 BCU structure consists of the following boroughs:

There has been significant concerns raised in various quarters over these changes.[8] [9] [10]

Non-BCU Frontline Policing

As of February 2019 the non-BCU units within Frontline Policing were:[11]

Met Operations

Met Operations or Met Ops is one of the eight business groups which forms the Metropolitan Police Service. It was created during the 2018–19 restructuring of the service, amalgamating much of its functions from the previous Specialist Crime & Operations Directorate. the group is led by Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist.

It consists of several branches:[12]

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 Met Operations).

SO is headed by an Assistant Commissioner (Matt Jukes), with two deputy assistant commissioners and three commanders.[13]

SO is currently organised into three commands:[12]

Protection Command

Headed by Commander Simon Messinger as of 2024,[14] it is split into the following specialist operational areas:[12]

Aviation and Protective Security

Security Command is headed by a Commander (Elisabeth Chapple as Acting Commander). The command comprises:[12]

Counter Terrorism Command

See main article: Counter Terrorism Command. Formed by the merger of Special Branch and the Anti-Terrorist Branch, it is headed as of 2024 by Commander Dom Murphy. 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.

Professionalism

It was first formed as an anti-corruption department by Commissioner Robert Mark in 1971,[15] known as A10 or the Complaints Investigation Bureau (CIB).[16] This was reorganised into the Directorate of Professional Standards under an Assistant Commissioner after changes to the police regulations and the way complaints were handled after the Police Reform Act 2002. It was renamed Professionalism in 2014, still under an Assistant Commissioner. It consists of officers and civilian staff and as of 2023 its commands or departments are:

It focuses on standards of professional conduct for officers, and the enforcement of them, in leadership and supervision, security of information and intelligence, recognition of the diversity of communities and staff, identifying and reacting to organisational and individual learning, and maintaining the threat of detection, prevention and management of risk.

Its duty is wider than the issues of complaints and corruption. There are obligations to treat staff fairly and to be seen as an employer of choice, thus the highest standards must be applied to internal processes as well. In order to achieve this it has been expanded to encompass employment tribunals, civil actions against the Commissioner and the vetting of staff.

Communications and Engagement

From 2023 this department covered the duties formerly covered by a Department of Media and Communication within Met Headquarters. It is headed by a Chief Communication and Engagement Officer (as of October Sharon Sawers).

Film Unit

The MPS Film Unit was launched in 2006 within Shared Support Services (now merged into Operational Support Services)[18] and manages the commercial filming schedule across London on behalf of local councils and major production companies 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 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.[19]

Data, Digital and Technology

Formerly known as Digital Policing and falling under Met Headquarters, this is led by the Chief Digital and Technology Officer (Darren Scates,), who heads directors for:

People and Resources

From 2023 this department covered the duties formerly covered by a Departments of Finance, of Commercial, of Property Services and of Human Resources within Met Headquarters.[20] It is headed by a Chief People and Resources Officer (as of October 2023 Clare Davies).

Police officer strength 2010-2018

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

Date Constable Sergeant Inspector Ch. inspector Superintendent Ch. superintendent ACPO rank Total
31 March 2010[21] 24,788 6,069 1,695 475 217 86 37 33,367
31 March 2011[22] 24,595 5,583 1,503 448 196 81 34 32,441
31 March 2012[23] 24,328 5,494 1,641 362 201 79 35 32,140
31 March 2013[24] 23,283 4,982 1,442 452 157 72 31 30,398
31 March 2014[25] 24,420 4,644 1,235 422 109 73 29 30,932
31 March 2015[26] 25,851 4,321 1,103 333 165 7629 31,877
31 March 2016[27] 25,787 4,548 1,261 279 159 62 29 32,125
31 March 2018[28] 24,1494,4561,234275197463430,390

Total workforce 2010-2016

The following table gives the workforce numbers in the MPS.

DateStaff membersPCSOsPolice officersTotalSpecial constables
31 March 2010 14,179 4,645 33,367 52,191 3,177
31 March 2011 13,688 4,009 32,441 50,138 4,944
31 March 2012 12,751 2,760 32,140 47,651 5,752
31 March 2013 12,328 2,684 30,398 45,410 5,303
31 March 2014 11,303 2,087 30,932 44,322 4,587
31 March 2015 10,599 1,787 31,877 44,263 3,659
31 March 2016 9,521 1,626 32,125 43,272 3,271

Strategy and Transformation

Strategy and Transformation took over the duties formerly covered by Departments of Transformation and of Strategy and Governance within Met Headquarters and is headed by a Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer (as of October 2023 Adrian Scott).

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Home – The Met. content.met.police.uk. 30 September 2018.
  2. Web site: Senior Management Team . Metropolitan Police. 6 June 2023.
  3. News: Two new Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioners appointed. https://web.archive.org/web/20221008041854/https://news.met.police.uk/news/two-new-metropolitan-police-assistant-commissioners-appointed-454472. 8 October 2022. 27 September 2022. news.met.police.uk.
  4. Web site: Home Office – police. Government of the United Kingdom. 31 March 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120110123442/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/police-crime-commissioners/questions/london/. 10 January 2012.
  5. Web site: Met announces new appointments to its most senior leadership team. 10 October 2023. news.met.police.uk.
  6. Web site: Metropolitan Police Service – Organisational Structure . Metropolitan Police Service . https://web.archive.org/web/20130516173544/http://www.met.police.uk/about/organisation.htm. 16 May 2013. dead.
  7. News: Met announces changes to local policing. Mynewsdesk. 5 March 2018. 5 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180305202852/http://news.met.police.uk/news/met-announces-changes-to-local-policing-294044. dead.
  8. Web site: Nearly 1,500 people sign petition to 'save' Sutton police after controversial merger plans. News Shopper. 20 February 2018 . 5 March 2018.
  9. News: Borough-based policing commands to disappear in London-wide cost cutting plan. 21 February 2018. Eastlondonlines. 5 March 2018.
  10. News: Met to merge all policing boroughs. 12 February 2018. BBC News. 5 March 2018.
  11. Web site: Organisational Structure of Frontline Policing & Professionalism. Metropolitan Police Service . 28 January 2019. Freedom of Information Request 01/FOI/18/000467. 20 August 2020.
  12. Web site: Structure of Met Operations & Specialist Operations . Metropolitan Police Service . 4 December 2018 . Freedom of Information Request 2018110000484. 20 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200820063916/https://maps.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/metropolitan-police/disclosure_2019/february_2019/information-rights-unit---structures-of-met-and-specialists-operations. 20 August 2020.
  13. Web site: Executive Structure. February 2017. Metropolitan Police Service. https://web.archive.org/web/20170315174523/https://beta.met.police.uk/globalassets/downloads/about-the-met/met_organisational_chart_february2017.pdf . 15 March 2017 .
  14. Web site: Senior Management Team.
  15. Web site: Obituaries - Sir Robert Mark: Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police who was ruthless in rooting out corruption. Dick. Hobbs. The Independent. 5 October 2010. 13 October 2022.
  16. 'Complaints' and 'Complaints Investigation Bureau', from Martin Fido and Keith Skinner, The Official Encyclopedia of Scotland Yard (1999), pages 52-53
  17. Web site: Commissioner outlines the Met's plans for evidence-based policing. news.met.police.uk. 12 October 2022. 12 October 2023.
  18. Web site: Film Unit - Metropolitan Police Service. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130223091416/http://content.met.police.uk/Site/mpsfilmunit. 2013-02-23.
  19. http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/policies/filming_in_london_policy.pdf Policy for Filming in London
  20. Web site: Senior management team. 11 October 2023. Metropolitan Police.
  21. Web site: Sigurdsson . Jenny . Dhani . Amardeep . 22 July 2010 . Police Service Strength England and Wales, 31 March 2010 .
  22. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/hosb1311/hosb1311?view=Binary Police Service Strength. England and Wales, 31 March 2011
  23. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/hosb0912/hosb0912?view=Binary Police Service Strength. England and Wales, 31 March 2012
  24. Home Office (18 July 2013). Tables for 'Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2013'.
  25. Home Office (17 July 2014). Tables for 'Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2014'.
  26. Home Office (16 July 2015). Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2015: data tables.
  27. Home Office (21 July 2016). Police workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2016. See data tables. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  28. Web site: Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2018. Government of the United Kingdom. 11 May 2019.