METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE

Metropolitan Police Service

Metropolitan Police Service

a)MPS staff frequently has multiple identities associated with their different job roles. Why is a dedicated "solution" needed?

What is the Metropolitan Police Service? The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is the police force that has responsibility for policing all of Greater London, excluding the City of London and the London Underground. It is the largest force within the United Kingdom and has to deal with the biggest threats and risks to the country.

What roles are available within the Metropolitan Police Service? There is a wide range of roles available for those wishing to join the MPS.

Primarily, the MPS is made up of police officers, of which there are over thirty thousand. The role of a police officer in the MPS is wide and encompasses a huge number of different tasks and responsibilities. The majority of police officers are attested police constables (PCs). They are responsible for the day to day general policing of the capital. PCs are generally either posted on foot patrol within their borough, so as to provide a visible deterrent and police presence, or patrol in police cars, meaning they are able to respond quickly to incidents to which they are called. They are not routinely armed and the majority are not trained to use a firearm, but all carry an extendable baton, CS spray and handcuffs. PCs are the frontline face of policing within the capital.

Also available in the MPS is the role of Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), who come to over two thousand in number. A PCSO is NOT an attested police officer but a uniformed civilian who works alongside regular police officers; they do not have the power of arrest. PCSOs have a wide range of general powers, however, such as issuing monetary penalties for various offences, seizing alcohol and drugs and detaining people without the use of force for up to thirty minutes. PCSOs do not carry any form of Personal Protection Equipment or handcuffs but do wear a stab vest and carry a radio. PCSOs act as the eyes and the ears of the MPS, providing a visible presence in the community and helping to tackle anti social behaviour. They are not replacements for fully attested police officers.

Finally, there are over 14,000 civilian staff that work for the Metropolitan Police. They are the backbone of the Service, and do roles ranging from working on the front desk of a police station to answering calls to 999 to working on maintenance within buildings owned by the MPS. Working as a civilian for the MPS provides plenty of opportunities and potential for career development.

Application process for the Metropolitan Police Service Applying to become a Police Constable in the MPS is a long process, which can take approximately a year to eighteen months to complete. Only around 10% of applications are successful.

When the MPS is recruiting, those interested are encouraged to attend recruitment events which are held across London at various times of ...