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Overview

The Metropolitan Police Service, also known as the Met, or MPS, plays multiple roles in the undercover policing scandal and Undercover Policing Inquiry.

  • It is the parent body to the Metropolitan Police Special Branch which ran the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS). Its Public Order Branch (A.8) was one of the main customers of SDS intelligence in relation to demonstrations by political and campaign groups. This is of particular significance for events such as the killing of Blair Peach at Southall in 1979 and the Battle of Welling in 1993. 
  • It helped found, and hosted in its early years, the National Public Order Intelligence Unit, and seconded its own officers to be managers and undercovers there, including EN12 Mark Kennedy 'Mark Stone'.
  • Its mismanagement of the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation and questions about the role of SDS intelligence-gathering during the Macpherson Inquiry are key questions the Inquiry has been tasked to rule on.
  • It has a vested interest in undercover and covert policing more widely, running the SO10 unit and being an accredited trainer of undercover police. 

It is a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, where its interests are represented by the Lawyer for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (‘CL’).

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The Metropolitan Police is one of the oldest police forces in the world. In the UK, it is considered the preeminent police force and often carries out national duties, especially around counter-terrorism. It has approximately 34,000 police officers and another 11,000 staff. Its headquarters are traditionally called New Scotland Yard.

The geographical area it is responsible for policing is known as the Metropolitan Police District (MPD), which is divided into multiple sub-districts. There are two kinds of police, uniformed and detective. The latter normally perform more investigative and special functions, including those carried out by Special Branch.

The senior officer structure is:

  1. Commissioner of Police, supported by Deputy Commissioner
  2. Assistant Commissioners
  3. Deputy Assistant Commissioners
  4. Commanders

From the perspective of the spycops scandal, it is of considerable importance to understand how much knowledge of the SDS was held by these senior officers to gauge the effectiveness of their oversight. It is now acknowledged that knowledge of the SDS went up to Commissioner level and there were near-annual visits by the senior ranks to the SDS safehouses.

There is also considerable discussion in the SDS Annual Reports and elsewhere of how the Commissioner himself would be embarrassed if knowledge of the squad and its activities ever became public. The extent to which this shaped the policies and outlook of managers within Special Branch and the SDS is something which is being explored in the Inquiry.

Senior officer ranking system

The Commissioner is the overall head of the Metropolitan Police and the most senior police officer in the United Kingdom.

Assistant Commissioners have responsibility for particular aspects of policing, for example, territorial (mostly uniform), professionalism, training, operations, etc., overseeing ‘departments’. 

The precise names and responsibilities have changed over time, though they were often simply referred to by a letter for much of the Met's existence. 

However, for the majority of the period the Undercover Policing Inquiry is concerned with (1968-2011), the relevant Assistant Commissioner was known as ‘C’  and had responsibility for all detective work; this included the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Special Branch. Later it was renamed as Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations (ASCO).

The Commissioner and Assistant Commissioners combined are also referred to as the ‘Chief Officers Group’. For much of the period under consideration by the Inquiry, the structure was unchanged until there was a series of re-organisations as part of modernisation drives in the late 1990s/early 2000s. It was in this period that Assistant Commissioner C became ASCO and units under him (usually) given the code prefix 'SO' - SO10 being covert policing, SO12 Special Branch, and SO13 Anti-Terrorism Branch

These same re-organisations saw the end of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch when it was merged with SO13 to form SO15 Counter Terrorism Command.

Under the Assistant Commissioners were Deputy Assistant Commissioners (DACs) who would have particular responsibilities, though, again, what these were and what they were called varied over time. Within ‘C’ department such roles included DAC (Security) which oversaw the Metropolitan Police Special Branch.

Finally, Commanders were one rank lower, considered equivalent to Assistant Chief Constables in other UK police forces. They sometimes oversaw ‘directorates’, such as Intelligence, depending on the era.

The rank of the head of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch also changed over the period of the SDS’s history. Initially it was at Chief Superintendent level but in 1969 became that of Commander. 

Confusion is sometimes caused by the word ‘commander’ being used to refer to the head of a unit rather than necessarily denoting the rank of Commander. For much of the period concerned, the head of Special Branch was at Commander rank, though it was also elevated to the rank of Deputy Assistant Commissioner for a period. This reflected its increasingly important role in counter-terrorism within UK policing; particularly when it was responsible for Irish-related matters.

More detail on this can be found in the Police and Constabulary Almanacs, which contain a wealth of detail, breaking down the various divisions and their labels, and their commanding officers.

List of Commissioners since 1968
John WaldronMar 1968 - Apr 1972
Robert MarkApr 1972 - Mar 1977
David McNeeMar 1977 - Oct 1982
Kenneth NewmanOct 1982 - Dec 1986
Peter ImbertJan 1987 - Dec 1992
Paul CondonJan 1993 - Jan 2000
John StevensFeb 2000 - Jan 2005
Ian BlairFeb 2005 - Nov 2008
Paul StephensonNov 2008  - Jul 2011
Tim Godwin (acting)Jul-Sep 2011
Bernard Hogan-HoweSep 2011 - Feb 2017
Cressida DickApr 2017 - Apr 2022
Stephen House (acting)Apr - Sep 2022
Mark RowleySep 2022 - 
Assistant Commissioner 'C' / Specialist Operations
Peter BrodieApr 1966 - Dec 1971
vacantJan - Mar 1972
Colin Woods(Mar 1972) - Dec 1972 - Feb 1975 - (Apr 1975)
vacantApr - May 1975
John S WilsonMay 1975 - Aug 1977
Gilbert KellandAug 1977 - Feb 1984
vacantFeb - May 1984
John DellowMay 1984 - Feb 1987
vacant Feb 1987
Hugh AnnesleyFeb 1987 - May 1989
vacantMay - June 1989
John SmithJune 1989 - Aug 1990
vacantAug-Sep 1990
William TaylorOct 1990 - Oct 1993
vacantOct 1993 - Apr 1994
David VenessApr 1994 - Feb 2005
Andy HaymanFeb 2005 - Dec 2007
Peter Clarke (acting)Dec 2007 - Feb 2008
Bob QuickFeb 2008 - Apr 2009
John YatesApr 2009 - July 2011
Cressida DickJuly 2011 - Dec 2014
Mark RowleyJan 2015 - Mar 2018
Neil BasuMar 2018 - Sep 2021
Matthew JukesSept 2021 - 
Deputy Assistant Commissioners

The following were Deputy Assistant Commissioners in the line of command for Metropolitan Police Special Branch. Sometimes they were referred to as DAC (Security). The rank of Deputy Assistant Commissioner was introduced in 1969 and discontinued in 1996 in favour of the lower rank of Commander. It was reintrouced several years later as DAC (Security), but it appears that the Head of Special Branch continued at Commander level.

Ferguson SmithJun 1969 - Jun 1972
vacantJun 1972 - Jan 1973
Victor GilbertJan 1973 - Feb 1977
vacantFeb - Jun 1977
Robert BryanJul 1977 - Sep 1980
vacantSep-Nov 1980
Colin HewettNov 1980 - Jul 1985
vacantJuly-Aug 1985
Simon CrawshawAug 1985 - Jun 1987
vacantJun - Dec 1987
Peter PhelanJan 1988 - Dec 1991
vacantDec 1991 - Apr 1992
John HowleyApr 1992 - Aug 1996
DAC discontinued Aug 1996
DAC (Security)
Barbara Wilding2001-2002
Suzanna Becks2003-2006
DAC SO15 Counter -Terrorism Command
Peter Clarke Oct 2006 - Feb 2008

As well as overseeing SO12 Special Branch, DAC (Security) had responsibility for the Intelligence Directorate (SO10 & SO11) and Protection Command (SO14, SO16, SO17).

 

Statements

Title
Hearing Day
Groups
Exhibits
Opening Statement of the Metropolitan Police Service for Tranche 1, Phase 2
Opening Statement of the Metropolitan Police Service for Tranche 1, Phase 3

Transcripts

Title
Hearing Day
Index
Transcript of UCPI Opening Statements: 3 Nov 2020 (Police, Home Office)
Tranche 1 Phase 1 | Day 2
Transcript of UCPI Hearing: Opening Statements - 21 Apr 2021 (CTI, Police)
Tranche 1 Phase 2 | Day 1
Transcript of UCPI Opening Statements: 9 May 2022 (CTI, Police)
Tranche 1 Phase 3 | Day 1
Transcript of UCPI Tranche 1 Closing Statements: 20 Feb 2023 (CTI, Police)
Tranche 1 Closing Statements | Day 1

Reports

Date
Originator
MPS-UCPI
Title
UCPI
MPS-0747803
Ref 23 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1968
MPS_0747803
UCPI
MPS-0748196
Ref 15 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Working Party on Public Order 1968
MPS_0748196
UCPI
MPS-0747804
Ref 24 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1969
MPS_0747804
UCPI
MPS-0747805
Ref 25 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1970
MPS_0747805
UCPI
MPS-0747806
Ref 1 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1971
MPS_0747806
UCPI
MPS-0748197
Ref 16 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Second Working Party on Public Order 1971
MPS_0748197
UCPI
MPS-0747807
Ref 2 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1972
MPS_0747807
UCPI
MPS-0748492
Ref 19 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report from A Department on a Schools Action Union Demonstration
MPS_0748492
UCPI
MPS-0748494
Ref 21 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Note of a meeting held in the Home Office on Militancy in Schools
MPS_0748494
UCPI
MPS-0748493
Ref 20 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Letter to Armstrong concerning militancy among school children
MPS_0748493
UCPI
MPS-0748491
Ref 18 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Extract from FCO Bulletin on Communist Matters on The Schools Action Union
MPS_0748491
UCPI
MPS-0748490
Ref 17 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Letter from the Department of Education and Science to Armstrong concerning militancy among schoolchildren
MPS_0748490
UCPI
MPS-0747808
Ref 3 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1973
MPS_0747808
UCPI
MPS-0747809
Ref 4 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1974
MPS_0747809
UCPI
MPS-0747810
Ref 5 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1975
MPS_0747810
UCPI
MPS-0747811
Ref 6 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1976
MPS_0747811
UCPI
MPS-0747812
Ref 7 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1977
MPS_0747812
UCPI
MPS-0747813
Ref 8 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1978
MPS_0747813
UCPI
MPS-0747814
Ref 9 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1979
MPS_0747814
UCPI
MPS-0747815
Ref 10 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1980
MPS_0747815
UCPI
MPS-0747816
Ref 11 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1981
MPS_0747816
UCPI
MPS-0747817
Ref 12 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1982
MPS_0747817
UCPI
MPS-0747818
Ref 13 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1983
MPS_0747818
UCPI
MPS-0747819
Ref 14 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Report of the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis for the year 1984
MPS_0747819
UCPI
Appendix A for Tranche 1 Closing statement of the Metropolitan Police Service: Extracts from Commissioner’s Annual Reviews on public order 1968 – 1982
UCPI
Appendix B for Tranche 1 Closing statement of the Metropolitan Police Service: Chronology of Historical Events During T1 Period
UCPI
Appendix C for Tranche 1 Closing statement of the Metropolitan Police Service: Field Deployments of UCOs
UCPI
Appendix D for Tranche 1 Closing statement of the Metropolitan Police Service: Battle of Lewisham Case Study
UCPI
MPS-0748495
Ref 22 in MPS Closing statement Tranche 1: Extract from FCO Bulletin on Communist Matters on The Schools Action Union
MPS_0748491