Metropolitan Police Service Film Unit
Fees for Special Services of Police & Intellectual Property Licences
The Metropolitan Police is an operational police service and filming is arranged outside the core function of policing. Therefore, filming services provided are charged and undertaken only where they do not impede the ability of any police officer or staff to fulfil their primary function. Where assistance is under Special Services of Police it is undertaken on a cost recovery basis.
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Below are the charges associated with the deployment of uniformed police officers under a Special Services Agreement to facilitate filming which is viewable/audible by the public. There is a minimum charge of 3 times the hourly rate. These rates are calculated using averages for uniformed officers and do not take into account an individual officer’s particular skills or expertise. The charges reflect the full economic cost to the MPS for the service provided. Other ranks up to Assistant Commissioner are also chargeable. In the event of short notice cancellation by the event organiser a charge will be made (see Cancelations). All charges will be subject to the addition of VAT.
Please note
The more notice you give us the less costs you will have to pay. When working out whether 5 days notice or less than 5 days notice has been given and the appropriate rate to be applied, the day the application is sent and the day on which the service is required will not be included in the number of days to be calculated. Example (i) Confirmed application received on Friday for a call time on Tuesday will have a less than 5 days notice rate applicable. (ii) Confirmed application received on Wednesday for a call time on Tuesday will be a 5 days notice or more rate applicable.
An application for the Special Services of Police will be considered received when a signed Form 236 has arrived by post, fax or email (with F236 converted to a PDF document) and confirmed by the recipient as being acceptable.
Once a call time has been agreed, there is very little flexibility in changing this time after the application has been accepted particularly when less than 5 days notice has been given.
New rates: apply from 1st April 2011
Less than 5 days notice
| Rank | Daily Rates (8 hours) |
Hourly Rates |
| Sergeant | £626 |
£86.34 |
| Constable | £514 |
£70.90 |
5 days or more notice
| Rank | Daily Rates (8 hours) |
Hourly Rates |
| Sergeant | £530 |
£73.10 |
| Constable | £435 |
£60.00 |
Rates where the event occurs on a public holiday but where organisers have given less than 5 days notice of the event.
| Rank | Daily Rates (8 hours) |
Hourly Rates |
| Sergeant | £939 |
£129.51 |
| Constable | £771 |
£106.35 |
Rates where the event occurs on a public holiday
| Rank | Daily Rates (8 hours) |
Hourly Rates |
| Sergeant | £795 |
£109.65 |
| Constable | £653 |
£90.00 |
Additional charges
Recces
Where Metropolitan Police employees are requested to attend a recce there may be a charge levied for the time involved. The actual time at the recce may be added to any subsequent agreed application for Special Services of Police. Where Special Services of police are subsequently not taken then the minimum charge of 3 times the hourly rate may be levied.
Vehicles
Where an officer is required to be in attendance with the necessary vehicle,
the additional charges associated with using police resources under a Special
Services Agreement will apply (this is not the supply of vehicles for filming)
- Motorcycles - £88.00 for each bike per day, or part of a day. In addition the services of a police motorcyclist will be charged at the appropriate rate shown above
- Cars - £120.00 for each car per day, or part of a day. In addition the services of a police driver will be charged at the appropriate rate shown above. An operator for the vehicle may also be required.
Cancellation
Less than 10 days before the event
The organiser shall pay charges due had the agreed number of personnel been required to perform the special services.
Event abandonment after commencement
The organiser shall pay charges due in respect of the actual personnel deployed had the event not been abandoned.
Productions which have been provided with police resources will be expected to provide reasonable accommodation for police performing special services and if this entails expense (for example, supplying a marquee) responsibility for the cost will rest with the organisation which has been provided with police resources.
Metropolitan Police Intellectual Property Agreement or License fees.
The Metropolitan Police charge for intellectual property licence. The following is an example:
- £250 minimum charge for a licence of incidental use.
- Beyond incidental use, fees are calculated on several factors including level of police content, length of production, intended broadcast regions.
- For further details, please contact intellectualproperty@met.police.uk
- All charges will be subject to the addition of VAT.
- Licenses do not cover images for print, nor do they cover merchandise of any type.
See intellectual property FAQ page for further information.