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City of London Police
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The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate organisation.
With around 1,200 employees, including 900 police officers and three police stations (located in Snow Hill, Wood Street and Bishopsgate), the City of London Police is the smallest Home Office territorial police force in England and Wales, both in terms of geographic area - the square mile centre of London - and the number of police officers.
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Encyclopedia
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate organisation.
With around 1,200 employees, including 900 police officers and three police stations (located in Snow Hill, Wood Street and Bishopsgate), the City of London Police is the smallest Home Office territorial police force in England and Wales, both in terms of geographic area - the square mile centre of London - and the number of police officers. Mike Bowron has been its commissioner since February 2007.
The City of London area has a resident population of 8,043 with 4,421 households. These numbers are increased by the daily influx of approximately 300,000 commuters working in the City, with an additional 300,000 cars passing through the square mile a day, along with a number of tourists.
History of policing in the City
Policing in the City of London has existed since Roman times. Wood Street Police Station the current headquarters of the City Police, is built on part of the site of a Roman fortress, which may have housed some of the first police in the City.
Prior to 1839, the responsibility for policing in the City was divided between day and night, primarily under the two Sheriffs. It was these officers responsible for ensuring the Night Watch was maintained. Policing during the day eventually came under the City Patrol, which evolved into the City Day Police, which was modelled on the Metropolitan Police. In 1838, the Day Police and Night Watch were merged into a single organisation. The passing of the City of London Police Act 1839 gave statutory approval to the force as an independent police body, heading off attempts made to merge it with the Metropolitan Police.
During 1842, the City Police moved its headquarters from Corporation's Guildhall to 26 Old Jewry, where it remained until it was relocated to Wood Street in 2002.
Organisation
The City of London Police has two divisions responsible for the day-to-day policing of the City, these being Snow Hill and Bishopsgate Police Stations. Around fifty percent of the work force operate from the two stations. Both Snow Hill and Bishopsgate stations provide CID Detectives and uniformed officers.
Unit organisation
The City Police is organised into six Basic Command Units:
- Economic Crime Department
- Anti-Terrorist and Public Order Department
- Specialist Crime Operations
- Snow Hill Division
- Bishopsgate Division
- Corporate Support
Leadership structure
- Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Head - Responsible for Economic Crime
- Chief Superintendent Alex Robertson - Responsible for Anti-Terrorism and Public Order
- Chief Superintendent Ken Stewart - Responsible for Bishopsgate Division
- Chief Superintendent Rob Bastable - Responsible for Snow Hill Division
Uniform
Where the majority of British police forces have silver-coloured badges, those of the City Police are gold. The force also have a unique red and white chequered sleeve and cap bands (red and white being the colours of the City of London), which in most other British police forces are black and white. City police officers wear slightly larger helmets than other forces whilst on foot patrol. These helmets do not feature the Brunswick Star, which is used on most other police helmets in England and Wales.
Ranks in the City of London Police
The prefix 'Woman' in front of female officers' ranks was officially declared obsolete in April, 1999.
Commissioners of Police for the City of London
- Daniel Whittle Harvey (1839–1863)
- Colonel Sir James Fraser, KCB (1863–1890)
- Sir Henry Smith, KCB (1890–1902)
- Sir William Nott-Bower, KCVO (1902–1925)
- Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Hugh Turnbull, KCVO, KBE, KPM (1925–1950)
- Colonel Sir Arthur Young, KBE, CMG, CVO, KPM (1950–1971)
- Charles James Page, CBE, QPM (1971–1977)
- Peter Marshall, QPM (1977–1985)
- Owen Kelly, QPM (1985–1994)
- William Taylor, CBE, QPM (1994–1998).
- Perry Nove, CBE, QPM (1998–2002)
- Dr James Hart, CBE, QPM (2002–2006)
- Michael Bowron QPM (16 February 2007– present)
Olympics
Teams of the City of London Police participated in the Olympic games three times in the tug of war tournament. At the 1908 Summer Olympics they won the gold medal, beating a team of the Liverpool Police in the final. In 1912 the team was beaten in the final by one of the Stockholm Police. At the 1920 Summer Olympics the team regained its title, beating The Netherlands. This was the last time tug of war was an Olympic sport, which means the City of London Police is still the reigning Olympic champion.
See also
External links
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