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 five main directorates, each with differing responsibilities. The main ones are Territorial Policing, the Specialist Crime Directorate, Specialist Operations, Central Operations, and administration and support. Each is overseen by an Assistant Commissioner, or in the case of administrative departments a director of police staff which is the equivalent civil staff grade. The Management Board is made up of the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and internal department heads.^[1]

Leadership

The senior leadership rank-holders of the MPS currently are:^[2]

• Commissioner - Bernard Hogan-Howe
• Deputy Commissioner- Tim Godwin (announced retirement for New Year 2012)^[3]
• Assistant Commissioner Ian MacPherson – responsible for Territorial policing (from 4 December, AC Simon Byrne, formerly, Deputy Chief Constable Greater Manchester Police)^[4]
• Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick – responsible for the Specialist Operations
• Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens – responsible for Central Operations and Specialist Crime (from 4 December, AC Mark Rowley [formerly, Chief Constable Surrey Police] will take over Central Operations, AC Owens will remain as permanent head of the Specialist Crime Directorate)^[4]
• Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison – Olympics and Paralympics and the National Olympic Security Coordinator.

The highest rank in the MPS is that of the Commissioner.

2012 will see the formation of a new leadership team at the top of the Met, changes include:^[4]

• The Deputy Commissioner retiring to be replaced by an unspecified person to be announced late 2011, and be in post from January 2012^[5]
• Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Simon Byrne, will take over as Assistant Commissioner; Territorial Policing
• The Chief Constable of Surrey Police Constabulary, Mark Rowling, will take over as Assistant Commissioner; Central Operations
• Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens will remain as just the Assistant Commissioner; Specialist Crime Directorate

Territorial Policing

The Territorial Policing (TP) directorate is commanded by Assistant Commissioner Ian Macpherson, and is responsible for providing day-to-day policing to geographical areas across Greater London, that comprise the Metropolitan Police District. It is divided into 32 Borough Operational Command Units (BOCUs), with each London borough assigned a BOCU.^[6] Each BOCU is commanded by a Chief Superintendent, apart from Westminster which due to its high concentration of Government facilities, is headed by a Commander.

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

The Royal Parks Operational Command Unit and Transport Operational Command Unit also come under the remit of Territorial Policing.^[7][8]

Number of officers per borough

Each BOCU has the following 'officer establishment'. The two letter code given in brackets for each borough is the ID code for that borough. Every Constable and Sergeant in the borough will have those letters on their epaulettes, as part of their shoulder number.

Barking & Dagenham (KG) – 443 Barnet (SX) – 595 Bexley (RY) – 406 Brent (QK) – 699 Bromley (PY) – 522 Camden (EK) – 886 Croydon (ZD) – 747 Ealing (XB) – 727 Enfield (YE) – 592 Greenwich (RG) – 703 Hackney (GD) – 773 Hammersmith & Fulham (FH) – 590 Haringey (YR) – 728 Harrow (QA) – 389 Havering (KD) – 389 Hillingdon (XH) – 516 Hounslow (TX) – 523

Islington (NI) – 712 Kingston upon Thames (VK) – 322 Lambeth (LX) – 1,038 Lewisham (PL) – 681 Merton (VW) – 390 Newham (KF) – 816 Redbridge (JI) – 496 Richmond upon Thames (TW) – 326 Kensington & Chelsea (BS) – 571 Southwark (MD) – 952 Sutton (ZT) – 351 Waltham Forest (JC) – 571 Tower Hamlets (HT) – 818 Wandsworth (WW) – 613 Westminster (CW) – 1,627

(These figures are the authorised establishments, as of June 2010, and were right at the time posted but may no longer be the actual number of officers appointed to each Borough)

(These only include officers assigned to boroughs not officer assigned to specific team e.g. Central Operations)

Source: Metropolitan Police Authority.^[9]

The latest figures can be found on the MPA website

Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD)

The Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD) is an investigative branch of the MPS,^[10] responsible for the investigation of serious, organised and specialist crime. In some cases, SCD investigates crime that is beyond the remit of CID detectives, attached to a Borough Operational Command Unit.

The SCD is commanded by an Assistant Commissioner, with a further five Commanders heading internal Operational Command Units.^[11]

The SCD is made up of 8 Operational Command Units (OCU), each specialising in a form of criminal investigations:^[10]

• Homicide and Serious Crime Command (SCD 1) – Is responsible for the investigation of homicide, such as; murder, attempted murder, and infanticide, which are all investigated by Murder Investigation Teams.^[12] The Command also investigates missing persons and abduction cases, where there is substantive reason to suspect that life is in danger of being taken, or has been.^[12] The Command also includes the; Homicide Task Force, which works to suppress 'man hunts' by members of the public, the Central Criminal Court Trials Unit which deals with gathering evidence and legal liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service. The Special Projects Investigation Unit which deals with other serious crime.^[12]

• Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (SCD2) – Investigates rape and other serious sexual offences.^[13]

• Fingerprint Services – 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.^[14]

• Forensic Services Command Unit (SCD 4) – 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.^[15]

• Child Abuse Investigation Command (SCD 5) – Responsible for the investigation of crimes against minors, mainly, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The Command has nineteen CAIT teams covering each borough, aiding local CID detectives, and are in close liaison with Social Services.^[16] 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.^[16]

• Economic and Specialist Crime Command (SCD 6) – Responsible for investigations of serious economic crime, made up of many units within the command, 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.^[17]

• Trident & Trafalgar Operational Command Unit (SCD 8) – Responsible for the investigation of gun related crimes within the black community of London. With focus on firearms related deaths, either where the suspect is black, or the victim. Also investigations where a firearms related incident within the black community led to no injury. The Command also investigates unprovoked shootings or threats to shoot unarmed officers, and PCSOs. Operation Trafalgar is also within the Command unit, dealing with shootings unrelated to black communities.^[18]

• Serious and Organised Crime Group (SCD 7) – Responsible for the investigations of serious, organised and life threatening crimes. The group is made up of the Central Task Force, the Projects Team, the Flying Squad, the Kidnap and Special Investigation Unit, the Hostage and Crisis Negotiations Unit and the Intelligence Support Unit.^[19]

• Covert Policing/Intelligence (SCD 10) – Responsible for providing an undercover surveillance team's capability to the rest of the force. Surveillance officers can be deployed anywhere within the Metropolitan Police District in 90 minutes, and are authorised to be deployed anywhere within the United Kingdom, with an armed capability available. Made up of the Technical Support Unit, which maintains surveillance equipment and The Authorities Office, which deals with gaining authorisation to deploy and the Prison Intelligence Unit.^[20]

Central Operations

The Central Operations Directorate (CO)^[21] is responsible for providing specialist policing functions along with operational support to the rest of the Service. CO is currently headed by Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens.

CO19, Armed Response Vehicle (ARV)

Units in this department include:^[21]

• CO1 – Central Operations HQ
• CO3 – Emergency Preparedness Operational Command Unit
• CO5 – Firearms Command Unit ^[22]
• CO10 – Central Communications Command
• CO11 – Public Order Operational Command Unit (formerly Public Order Intelligence Unit)
• CO12 – 2012 Olympics preparation (formerly Public Order Training)
• CO14 – Clubs & Vice Unit
• CO15 – Traffic Operational Command Unit
• CO16 – Traffic Criminal Justice Unit
• CO19 – Specialist Firearms Command
• CO20 – Territorial Support Group

Operational Support:

• Air Support Unit
• Dog Support Unit
• Film Unit
• Marine Policing Unit
• Mounted Branch

The Metropolitan Special Constabulary Tasking Unit/Operational Support Unit has recently been created, consisting mostly of Special Constables who provide high-visibility policing and conduct public order patrols. They are normally active on Friday and Saturday nights, mainly as part of Operation Optic, an initiative aimed at reducing alcohol-related disorder and violence.

Specialist Operations

Specialist Operations (SO) is a directorate of the 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. It is currently headed by Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, QPM.

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:

• Specialist Protection (SO1)

Provides armed personal protection services for ministers and public officials at threat from terrorism, including visiting heads of government and other public figures.

• Royalty Protection (SO14)

Provides protection of the Monarch and other members of the Royal Family. The OCU is divided into Residential Protection, Personal and Close Protection and the Special Escort Group (SEG) who provide mobile protection.

• Diplomatic Protection Group (SO6)

Provides protection for foreign missions in London, including protecting embassies, and the residences of visiting heads of state, heads of government and ministers.

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.

Protective Security Command (SO2)

• Palace of Westminster Division (SO17)
• Aviation Security Operational Command Unit (SO18)

Incorporates financial, resources and HR support for the SO Business Group, including the Assistant Commissioner's private office. It also provides additional security and counter-terrorism co-ordination for London.

Other departments

Overview of Metropolitan Police Service Business Groups

Business Group	Led by	Role
Directorate of Public Affairs	Director of Public Affairs, Dick Fedorcio	Deals with the media and looks after publicity and internal communications
Resources Directorate	Director of Resources, Anne McMeel	Responsible for finance, buildings, procurement etc.
Strategy Modernisation & Performance Directorate	Director Stephen Rimmer	Comprises three discrete units: The Strategy Unit encompassing Strategic Analysis; the Met Modernisation Programme which incorporates the Corporate Risk Management Group; and the Performance Directorate
Human Resources Directorate	Director of Human Resources, Martin Tiplady	Personnel management
Directorate of Information	Director of Information, Ailsa Beaton	Responsible for information systems and operational communications, including the Metcall project.

Police officer strength by rank

The following table gives the police strength in the MPS by rank, as of 31 March 2011.^[23]

Constables	Sergeants	Inspectors	Ch Inspectors	Superintendents	Ch Superintendents	Acpo rank	Total
24,595	5,583	1,503	448	196	81	34	32,441

References

1. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/policy_and_prevention.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
2. ^ http://www.met.police.uk/about/leadership.htm
3. ^ Met Police deputy commissioner Tim Godwin retires, BBC News]
4. ^ ^{a b c} "New Assistant Commissioners' roles announced". Met.police.uk. 2011-11-01. http://content.met.police.uk/News/New-assistant-commissioners-roles-announced/1400004131243/1257246662242. Retrieved 2011-11-03. 
5. ^ Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis job vacancy - Metropolitan Police Authority
6. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Organisational Structure". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/about/organisation.htm#territorial. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
7. ^ http://www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/sop/2009/090903/10/?qu=transport%20ocu&sc=3&ht=1
8. ^ http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/who_we_are_and_what_we_do/corporate/mps_organisational_chart.pdf
9. ^ "Police officer allocation" (PDF). MPA. 2005-02-11. http://www.mpa.gov.uk/downloads/issues/police-numbers/police-numbers.pdf. Retrieved 2006-09-21. ^{[dead link]}
10. ^ ^{a b} "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
11. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/about/leadership.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
12. ^ ^{a b c} "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/homicide.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
13. ^ http://www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/sop/2009/090903/10/
14. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/fingerprint_services.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
15. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/forensic_services.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
16. ^ ^{a b} "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/child_abuse.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
17. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/economic_specialist_crime.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
18. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/trident.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
19. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/serious_and_organised_crime.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
20. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Specialist Crime Directorate". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/scd/specialist_units/covert_policing.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
21. ^ ^{a b} "Metropolitan Police Service – Central Operations". Met.police.uk. http://www.met.police.uk/co/index.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
22. ^ http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/policies/prisoner_productions_policy.pdf
23. ^ http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/hosb1311/hosb1311?view=Binary