History of the Metropolitan Police Service of the Metropolitan Police Service and therefore the most senior Police Officer in England and Wales. Between 1990 and 2010, over 50 serving MPS officers died in service, with eight being murdered or fatally injured by an assailant. History of the Metropolitan Police Service The history of the Metropolitan Police Service is long and complex, with many different events taking place between its inception in 1829 to the present day. Before the passing of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829, law enforcement among the general population in England was carried out by unpaid parish constables who were elected, and later appointed
Metropolitan Police Service powers and uniform as their regular colleagues. This makes the Metropolitan Police, in terms of officer numbers, the largest police force in the United Kingdom by a significant margin, and one of the biggest in the world. In terms of its police area (primary geographic area of responsibility), leaving its national responsibilities aside, the Met has the 8th smallest police area of the territorial police forces in the United Kingdom. The overall operational leader of the force is the Commissioner, whose formal title is Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The Commissioner is answerable, responsible and accountable to The Queen,