UK Police Force
Metropolitan Police
History of Metropolitan Police
Est. 1826The Metropolitan Police Service was founded on 29 September 1829 by Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel under the Metropolitan Police Act 1829, establishing the first modern professional police force in the country. It absorbed the earlier Bow Street Runners and Thames River Police. Today it is the largest police force in the United Kingdom, responsible for policing Greater London (excluding the City of London) and a population of around 9 million. Uniquely, it is led by a Commissioner rather than a Chief Constable, and is held to account by the Mayor of London through the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) rather than by an elected Police & Crime Commissioner.
Metropolitan Police Complaint Routes
IOPC Complaint Routes
Independent Office for Police Conduct - For serious complaints
Force Leadership
Former Commissioners
- 2022–2022Sir Stephen HouseActing Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 2022, between Dick and Rowley.
- 2017–2022Dame Cressida DickCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2017 to 2022; the first woman to hold the post.
- 2011–2017Sir Bernard Hogan-HoweCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2011 to 2017.
- 2009–2011Sir Paul StephensonCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2009 to 2011.
- 2005–2008Sir Ian BlairCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2005 to 2008.
- 2000–2005Sir John StevensCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2000 to 2005.
- 1993–2000Sir Paul CondonCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1993 to 2000.
- 1987–1993Sir Peter ImbertCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1987 to 1993.
- 1982–1987Sir Kenneth NewmanCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1982 to 1987.
- 1977–1982Sir David McNeeCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1977 to 1982.
- 1972–1977Sir Robert MarkCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1972 to 1977.
- 1968–1972Sir John WaldronCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1968 to 1972.
- 1958–1968Sir Joseph SimpsonCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1958 to 1968.
- 1953–1958Sir John Nott-BowerCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1953 to 1958.
- 1945–1953Sir Harold ScottCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1945 to 1953.
- 1935–1945Sir Philip GameCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1935 to 1945.
- 1931–1935Viscount TrenchardCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1931 to 1935.
- 1928–1931Viscount Byng of VimyCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1928 to 1931.
- 1920–1928Sir William HorwoodCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1920 to 1928.
- 1918–1920Sir Nevil MacreadyCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1918 to 1920.
- 1903–1918Sir Edward HenryCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1903 to 1918; a pioneer of fingerprint identification.
- 1890–1903Sir Edward BradfordCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1890 to 1903.
- 1888–1890James MonroCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1888 to 1890.
- 1886–1888Sir Charles WarrenCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1886 to 1888, during the Whitechapel murders.
- 1869–1886Sir Edmund HendersonCommissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1869 to 1886.
- 1868–1869Douglas LabalmondiereActing Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, 1868 to 1869.
- 1850–1855Captain William HayJoint Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1850 to 1855.
- 1829–1850Sir Charles RowanOne of the two first Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police, appointed at its founding in 1829.
- 1829–1868Sir Richard MayneOne of the two first Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police (1829) and the longest-serving, in post until 1868.