Group    From 29/9/1829 

Metropolitan Police

Categories: Armed Forces

Founded in 1829 by Robert Peel under the Metropolitan Police Act 1829 and on 26 September of that year, over 1,000 men were sworn in in the grounds of the Foundling Hospital. (From Sarah Wise's book, The Italian Boy).

The next year local divisions, one for each borough and each with its own station, were established. These were known by letters of the alphabet. e.g. M division was for Southwark.

The Met did not police the City, so, predictably, territorial disputes materialised. The old-style force policing the City moving vagrants over the border and the Met doing the same in reverse. Temple Bar was a location where this activity became a spectator sport (from Sarah Wise's book). Sad and laughable as this now seems, in essence, the practice has not gone away: the buskers at King's Cross knowing the precise line where the BT police patch meets that of the Met and what the differing busker policies are; each Council being aware then whenever they launch a campaign to clean up drug-dealing, it causes increased drug-related activity in neighbouring boroughs.

Wikipedia states the Met is "the first modern and professional police force in the world" though the establishment of the Marine Police preceded the land-based force by over 30 years, and Commissioners of Police for Scotland were appointed in 1714. It's all in the definition.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Metropolitan Police

Commemorated ati

First Peelers training school

The bronze panel depicts an everyday scene in London at that time - that of a...

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Metropolitan Police - Eternal flame

{On the glass in front of the flame:} This eternal flame commemorates those w...

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National Police Memorial

Unveiled by the Queen.

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PC Patrick Dunne - SW8

{On the top, diamond, plaque:} This tree is dedicated to PC Patrick Dunne who...

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Police at Scotland Yard

Site of Scotland Yard, first headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, 1829 - ...

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Metropolitan Police

Creations i

James Braidwood

What a great plaque. The inscription is inside a laurel wreath, in front of a...

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Jonathon “JJ” McPhillips

Murder £20,000 reward At about 12:40am on Saturday 25th February 2017, 28 yea...

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PC Gary Toms

Here fell PC Gary Toms, 11 April 2009.

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PC Nina Mackay

Here fell PC Nina Mackay, 24th October 1997. Metropolitan Police

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Other Subjects

Manchester Regiment - Jacobites

Manchester Regiment - Jacobites

Unit of soldiers raised in Manchester during the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, supporting Charles Stewart against George II.  300 volunteers commanded by Francis Towneley.  They withdrew to Carlisle whi...

Group, Armed Forces

2 memorials
Honourable Artillery Company

Honourable Artillery Company

London unit about which IanVisits writes "oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior in the Territorial Army. It has the rare distinction of having fought on both the...

Group, Armed Forces

4 memorials
Hyde Park Barracks / Knightsbridge Barracks

Hyde Park Barracks / Knightsbridge Barracks

This site was first developed in 1795 for use by the Horse Guards. The barracks were designed by architect James Johnson and buildings were added up to 1803. (British History Online – 1st Barracks ...

Group, Animals, Armed Forces

2 memorials
John Sherwood-Kelly, VC

John Sherwood-Kelly, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 20 November 1917, age 37, while serving in the Norfolk Regiment. "Coming under fire from across the canal, with great gallantry he inspired confidence in his men. ...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Richard Savage, fourth Earl Rivers

Richard Savage, fourth Earl Rivers

Governor of the Tower of London, soldier who fought in Ireland for William III and notorious womanizer. Birth date uncertain. Died at home at Ealing Grove, Middlesex.

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration

1 memorial