History of the Metropolitan Police
Time Line 1930 - 1949
| 1930 | Large number of men posted to Motor Patrol work: 4 subdivisional Inspectors, 31 Sergeants, and 324 Constables. | ||
| 1931 | Commissioner Byng retires. Lord Trenchard appointed. | ||
| 1932 | Lord Trenchard abolishes the timed Beat System and sets out his thoughts about the Metropolitan Police Personnel recruitment and promotion system. | ||
| 1933 | Trenchard begins his programme for the improvement of Section Houses. | ||
| 1934 | The Metropolitan
Police College opens at Hendon. Metropolitan Police withdraw from Devonport Dockyard, bringing to a close its presence in HM Dockyards. |
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| 1935 | Metropolitan Police
Forensic Laboratory opened. Lord Trenchard retires as Commissioner, and Sir Philip Game is appointed in his place. |
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| 1936 | The Battle of Cable Street involves the Metropolitan Police in street battles with opposing political factions. | 
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| 1937 | The 999 system is introduced. | ||
| 1938 | Civil Defence starts with the formation of two Reserves in the event of war. The first are retired officers, the second Special Constables. | ||
| 1939 | I.R.A. activity results in 59 explosions in the Metropolitan Police District. 55 people are convicted for these offences. | ||
| 1940 | 98 Metropolitan
Police officers killed during air raids. More information about the MPS officer murdered in Hyde Park during the war |
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| 1941 | Air raid bombings continue, and Holloway police station is destroyed. Somers Town, Sydenham and Brixton stations are too badly damaged to be used. | ||
| 1942 | Police officers allowed to volunteer for the Armed Forces. | ||
| 1943 | In an attempt to curb housebreaking, the Commissioner Sir Philip Game asks people not to keep furs, saying "they are no doubt warmer, and look nicer than a tweed coat, but a live dog is better than a dead lion." | 
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| 1944 | Looting reaches an all time record. | ||
| 1945 | Sir Philip Game retires and is replaced as Commissioner by Harold Scott. |  |
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| 1946 | The Metropolitan and City Police Company Fraud Department is formed. | ||
| 1947 | Metropolitan Police face a deficiency of 4,730 men as a result of the war. | ||
| 1948 | Indictable crime rate falls to 126,000 crimes, but this is still 40% higher than before the war. | ||
| 1949 | Lord Oakseys committee reports on police pay, recommending small increases and London weighting. | ||