Metropolitan Police facts for kids

Shares the nickname "the Met" but not to be confused with, Met Office

Quick facts for kids Metropolitan Police Service
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Badge under the reign of King Charles III since July 2024
Flag under the reign of King Charles III since July 2024
Common name	The Met
Abbreviation	MPS
Agency overview
Formed	September 29, 1829 (195 years ago) (1829-09-29)
Preceding agencies	Bow Street Runners Thames River Police
Employees	43,571 in total 32,493 police officers 9,816 police staff 1,262 PCSOs
Volunteers	1,858 special constables 1,500 police support volunteers 3,658 volunteer police cadets
Annual budget	£4.43 billion
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Greater London (excluding the City of London)

Map of the Metropolitan Police District
Size	1,578 km² (609 sq mi)
Population	8.95 million (2019/20)
Legal jurisdiction	England and Wales (throughout the whole of the United Kingdom, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, under certain limited circumstances)
Primary governing body	Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime
Secondary governing body	Home Office
Constituting instruments	Metropolitan Police Act 1829 Metropolitan Police Act 1839 Police Act 1996
General nature	Local civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	New Scotland Yard, Westminster, London, England
Police officers	32,493 full time 1,858 special constables
PCSOs	1,262
Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime responsible	Kaya Comer-Schwartz
Agency executives	Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis Matt Jukes, Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), often called the Met Police or just the Met, is the police force that keeps people safe in Greater London. It is the largest police force in the United Kingdom.

The Met has some very important jobs that cover the whole of the UK. These include fighting terrorism and protecting the King and the Royal Family. They also protect top government officials, like the Prime Minister.

The Met is sometimes called Scotland Yard. This nickname comes from the name of the street where its first headquarters was located back in the 1800s. Today, its main office is called New Scotland Yard.

The main area the Met looks after is called the Metropolitan Police District. This includes all 32 London boroughs. However, it doesn't cover the small, historic "Square Mile" of the City of London, which has its own separate police force.

Because London is the capital city, the Met has unique challenges. They protect 164 foreign embassies, police Heathrow and London City airports, and guard the Palace of Westminster, where the government meets. They also manage more protests and big events than any other police force in Britain.

History of the Met Police
Who is in charge of the Met?
The Met's Policing Area
Ranks and Uniforms
The People of the Met
Resources and Equipment
- Police Vehicles
- Specialist Units
Police Stations
Images for kids
See also

History of the Met Police

The Metropolitan Police Service was created in 1829 by the Home Secretary at the time, Sir Robert Peel. On September 29th of that year, the first police constables started patrolling the streets of London. These early officers were nicknamed "Bobbies" or "Peelers" after Robert Peel.

Ten years later, in 1839, the Met grew bigger. It joined with other law enforcement groups in London, like the Thames River Police and the Bow Street Runners, to create one single police force for the city.

Who is in charge of the Met?

Since 2012, the Mayor of London has been responsible for how the Met is run. This is done through a special office called the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). The Mayor can choose someone to help with this job. As of 2024, this person is the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz.

Before the year 2000, the Met was controlled directly by the UK's central government through the Home Office. It was the only police force in the country to be run this way.

The Met's Policing Area

New Scotland Yard is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police.

The area the Met polices is called the Metropolitan Police District (MPD). This area is divided into 12 Basic Command Units (BCUs), which are made up of two, three, or four London boroughs.

There are other police forces that work in London too:

The City of London Police look after the "Square Mile," which is London's main financial district.
The Ministry of Defence Police guard military buildings and properties.
The British Transport Police (BTP) are in charge of policing the train network, including the London Underground, trams, and the Docklands Light Railway.
The Royal Parks Operational Command Unit patrols many of Greater London's major parks.

If a very serious crime happens, the Met will usually take over the investigation, even if it's in an area normally covered by another force.

Ranks and Uniforms

Met Police officers in Soho. The famous custodian helmet (middle) has been worn by male officers on foot patrol since 1863.

The Met uses the standard police ranks found across Britain. Officers wear their rank on their shoulder patches, called epaulettes. However, the Met has five unique high-level ranks above Chief Superintendent: Commander, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and Commissioner.

All officers wear a badge with their rank and last name. They also have a unique identification number on their shoulder so the public can identify them.

Officer Ranks

Here are the ranks for uniformed officers, from highest to lowest:

Metropolitan Police Service ranks and insignia
Rank	Commissioner	Deputy commissioner	Assistant commissioner	Deputy assistant commissioner	Commander	Chief superintendent	Superintendent	Chief inspector	Inspector	Sergeant	Constable
Epaulette insignia

Volunteer Police Ranks

The Met is supported by volunteer police officers called the Metropolitan Special Constabulary. They have their own rank structure:

Metropolitan Police Service Special Constabulary ranks and insignia
Rank	Special constable	Special sergeant	Special inspector	Special chief inspector	Assistant chief officer	Chief officer
Epaulette Insignia
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

Detectives

Officers who work for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are called detectives. They have ranks like "Detective Constable" or "Detective Inspector." These ranks are equal to their uniformed counterparts and do not give them extra pay or authority.

The People of the Met

The Met is made up of different types of staff who work together to keep London safe.

Police Officers: These are full-time, paid officers who have full police powers. In 2025, there were about 33,201 regular police officers.
Special Constables: These are volunteer, part-time officers who have the same powers as regular officers. They wear the same uniform and carry the same equipment. In 2025, there were about 1,127 "Specials."
Police Staff and PCSOs: The Met also employs civilians who are not police officers. This includes Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), who work in local communities, and other staff who work in roles like administration and support.

Resources and Equipment

The Met needs a lot of resources to do its job, from vehicles to a large budget.

Police Vehicles

Different types of Metropolitan Police vehicles at a protest in 2021.

The Met has a fleet of around 5,200 vehicles. These include:

Incident Response Vehicles (IRVs): These are the standard police cars used for patrols and responding to 999 calls.
Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs): These cars carry specially trained firearms officers.
Traffic Units: These cars and motorcycles patrol major roads to deal with accidents and enforce traffic laws.
Protected Carriers: These are large, tough vans used for public order situations, like big protests.
Unmarked Cars: These "Q-cars" are used by various departments for undercover work.

Most police vehicles are marked with a blue and yellow reflective pattern called Battenburg markings. This makes them easy to see, especially at night.

Specialist Units

The Met has many specialist units with highly trained officers and staff.

A marine policing unit boat on the River Thames.

Protection Command: This unit provides armed protection for the Royal Family, the Prime Minister, and other important people. It also guards important buildings like Downing Street and embassies.
Aviation Policing Command: This unit is responsible for security at Heathrow and London City airports. Most of these officers are armed.
Flying Squad: A famous unit that investigates and intercepts armed robberies.
Specialist Firearms Command (MO19): This unit provides armed officers who respond to incidents involving guns and other dangerous weapons.
Dog Support Unit (DSU): This unit uses highly trained dogs and handlers to find weapons and missing people.
Marine Policing Unit (MPU): This unit patrols the River Thames and other waterways in London.
Mounted Branch: This unit provides policing on horseback. They are often seen escorting the Royal Guard at Buckingham Palace and are used for crowd control at events like football matches.
Territorial Support Group (TSG): These are highly trained officers who deal with public disorder and riots. They wear special protective gear and are trained to handle the most difficult situations.

Police Stations

A traditional blue lamp is a classic sign of a police station.

Besides its headquarters at New Scotland Yard, the Met has many police stations across London. You can usually spot a police station by the blue lamp outside the entrance, a tradition that started in 1861.

In 2017, there were 73 police station front counters open to the public. One of the oldest working stations is in Wapping. It opened in 1908 and is the headquarters for the Marine Policing Unit.