The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe
The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, have announced that for the first time in its modern history, the MPS will recruit exclusively from Londoners to fill the ranks of new police constables. The introduction of this new criteria for applicants to the MPS will help ensure the force is more resilient and more reflective of the city it serves.
The Met is on track to recruit 5,000 new police constables before 2016 to maintain police numbers at or around 32,000, as pledged in the Mayor’s 2012 manifesto. The new policy means that from Friday, 1 August only candidates who have lived in Greater London for three of the last six years will now be eligible to apply at entry level. This reflects a shared ambition by the Met and the Mayor to recruit a workforce that reflects and understands London’s diversity and has the skills and cultural competencies needed to police a great global city.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “London is a 24/7 global city with a dynamic and intensity not seen in other parts of the UK. And with London’s population increasing and becoming even more diverse it is essential that our workforce is able to maintain the trust and confidence of London’s communities.
“Recruiting Constables with a knowledge and understanding of this reality through living in the capital makes sense to help us achieve this aim.
“They will have a better understanding of local issues, knowledge of local communities and an inbuilt insight into London’s varied cultures. We need great talent to help us fight crime."
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “It is vital that London’s police force reflects the city it serves. Recent recruitment rounds have attracted a more diverse pool of applicants, but by focusing exclusively on Londoners from now on, we can achieve our goals more quickly. By putting Londoners first, we can fill the Met’s ranks with the talented recruits who understand the people and culture of this great global city the best.
“Every police officer is always and will always be selected on merit, but there is more than enough talent in this great city to give the Met all the devoted and skilled new recruits they need to go on keeping Londoners safe.”
The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Stephen Greenhalgh, said: “This new policy is all about competence rather than colour. We need a Metropolitan Police Service that is made up of many more Londoners so the force has the diversity of talent needed to police a great global city.
“As London grows and changes in the decades ahead, the police must change too so that they can police effectively and maintain public consent. That means having officers who understand the dynamics of this city and who have the skills to connect with and serve all Londoners.”
The policy change will not affect serving officers, existing MPS police staff, members of the Special Constabulary, or existing police officers seeking to transfer from other UK forces.
People who live outside Greater London will still be able to apply to become an MPS Special Constable, Police Community Support Officer, or member of police staff, or under the existing recruitment process for a Police Constable, until Thursday, 31 July.
The policy change follows the Mayor of London’s Police and Crime Plan 2013-16 which restated his ambition to create a police force that reflects the city it serves: “London must be policed in ways that reinforce cohesion rather than difference, with a police service that commands public confidence and one that reflects like the city it serves – drawing its recruits from among London’s diverse communities.”
Mr Green said: “The police need a workforce with a good understanding of the diverse communities they serve. Officers must be able to gain the trust and support of those communities to report crime and work with them. A workforce which is drawn from and reflects the communities it serves is an important element of fair and effective policing.
“I support the Met Commissioner and Mayor of London’s determination to ensure that their workforce can understand and relate to communities in a modern, diverse and dynamic city like London.”
Pan London Taskforce open day
Also, Imber Court, the Metropolitan Police Service's (MSP) Mounted Training Establishment in Esher, Surrey hosts an open day on Saturday 19 July which will showcase the MPS Pan London Taskforce, a group of specialist units that support day to day policing on London's boroughs.
Demonstrations on the day include the Mounted Branch activity ride, a high octane display of horse riding skills with officers jumping through rings of fire, a crowd suppressing public order demonstration and a helicopter pursuit, where the 'suspects' will escape into the grounds as part of the simulation! Rumour has it that some of our newest puppy recruits will be involved as well!
Throughout the day there will be an opportunity to chat with officers from the various units that make up the Taskforce, all of them keen to offer an insight into their daily work.
Children's activities and refreshments will also be available throughout the day to keep everyone entertained. Officers have been asked not to hog the Bouncy Castle!
Doors open to the public at 11:00hrs with the first display taking place at 12:30hrs. The event closes at 16:00hrs.
Chief Superintendent Mark Bird, who heads up the MPS Pan London Taskforce, said, "This open day promises to be fun and enjoyable for visitors of all ages. It is a perfect opportunity to come and see some of the exciting and varied police units that support daily policing on London's streets. There will be plenty of officers on hand to chat to and answer any burning questions you may have about individual units, whether that be about sniffer dogs, the mounted branch, the police helicopter, the Territorial Support Group or the even Marine Police Unit.