Group    From 29/9/1829 

Metropolitan Police

Categories: Emergency Services

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 that 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.

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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

Mrs A. Calvin Lines

Mrs A. Calvin Lines

Lady District Superintendent in the St John Ambulance Brigade, Metropolitan Corps, 1893-1923. Dame Grace in the Order of St John.

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
E. J. Deakin

E. J. Deakin

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial
G. C. Ware

G. C. Ware

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial
Sidney Sims

Sidney Sims

One of five fire-watchers killed on the night bombs fell on Chelsea Old Church and the surrounding area. Optical lens maker at Gregory Bottley & Co. Had been with the firm since leaving school....

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
PC Walter C. Choat

PC Walter C. Choat

Aged 34, killed by a burglary gang fighting their way out of a building in Cutler Street.

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Royal Northern Hospital - 2 - Islington Victoria Ward

Royal Northern Hospital - 2 - Islington Victoria Ward

N7, Manor Gardens

The phrase "gratitude to God for national and parochial progress during that eventful period" is a fascinating insight into the late Vict...

2 subjects commemorated
Winifred Holtby

Winifred Holtby

Born Yorkshire. Graduated with and maintained a long friendship with Vera Brittain. Writer, reformer and pacifist.

Person, Literature, Peace

1 memorial
Great Fire of London

Great Fire of London

Started on a Sunday morning. After 4 days the destruction included: - an area of one and a half miles by a half mile - 87 churches - 13,200 houses - only 6 people are recorded as having died (but ...

Event, Tragedy

55 memorials