History of the Metropolitan Police
Time Line 1910 - 1929
| 1910 | Radio Telegraphy
used for the first time, resulting in the capture of Doctor
Crippen. The miners strike in South Wales results in many Metropolitan Police officers assisting to maintain law and order. |
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| 1911 | The Siege of Sidney Street results in armed Metropolitan Police officers taking to the streets with the military to deal with armed anarchist criminals. | ||
| 1912 | Assassination
attempt on the life of the Commissioner, Sir Edward Henry.
Establishment of the Metropolitan Police Special Constabulary on a permanent basis. |
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| 1913 | The Commissioner calls for legislation to be introduced to restrict the trade in pistols following the assassination attempt on his own life. | ||
| 1914 | With the outbreak
of war, 24,000 Special Constables are sworn in, and by the
end of the year there are 31,000. Annual leave is suspended
for the first year of the war. Women Police founded in this year. |
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| 1915 | London Ambulance Service commences operation, taking over some of the duties originally performed by the Metropolitan Police. However, police in this year convey over 11,000 people to hospital. | ||
| 1916 | The Commissioner Sir Edward Henry signs a Police Order in November stating that any member of the Metropolitan Police renders himself liable to dismissal by joining a union. | ||
| 1917 | At this point in WW1, some 2,300 members of the Metropolitan Police were serving in the armed services. | ||
| 1918 | Major strike of Metropolitan Police in search of better pay and conditions, and union recognition. Sir Edward Henry resigns as Commissioner, and is replaced by Sir Nevil Macready. | ||
| 1919 | Macready crushes
a further police strike. Women Police Patrols appointed. Formation of Flying Squad. |
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| 1920 | Sir Nevil Macready retires as Commissioner, and is replaced by Brigadier-General Sir William Horwood. | ||
| 1921 | The Police Pensions
Act comes into force, fixing an age limit for each rank at
which retirement shall be compulsory. Z Division formed on the South side of the River Thames. |
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| 1922 | Commissioner Horwood
admits that many of the men taken into the force in 1919 to
replace strikers and those in the armed forces have given
trouble due to neglecting their beats
and drunkenness. The Commissioner also comments on the growth in consumption of methylated spirits, with 80 convictions this year. Women Constables reduced to an establishment of 20. |
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| 1923 | First Cup Final at Wembley leads to major crowd problems, controlled by the Mounted Branch. Billy, the White Horse of Wembley, and his rider Pc George Scorey become a legend. | ||
| 1924 | The Commissioner explains in his Annual Report how the social status of a Metropolitan policeman has been raised due to his conditions of employment. | ||
| 1925 | The Metropolitan
Police begin to withdraw from policing dockyards (including
Rosyth, Pembroke, Deptford Dockyards) and War Department Stations.
Sir James Olive retires from his position as an Assistant Commissioner after 53 years service. |
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| 1926 | Attempt to assasinate Commissioner Horwood with poisoned chocolates | ||
| 1927 | Public Carriage Office transfered to Lambeth | ||
| 1928 | Retirement of Brigadier-General Sir William Horwood. Viscount Byng of Vimy appointed new Commissioner. | 
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| 1929 | Centenery of Metropolitan
Police celebrated with a parade in Hyde Park and inspection
by HRH the Prince of Wales. The Police Box system commences on an experimental basis in Richmond and Wood Green. |
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