History of the Metropolitan Police Service However, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner is still appointed by the Home Secretary. In 2017, the Metropolitan Police have stated that they will not investigate low level crimes and crimes where finding a suspect is unlikely. Serious crimes like violent offences will still be investigated. This has been criticised as giving the, "green light" to thieves but funding for the Metropolitan Police has been cut in recent years and the force claims it must stay within its budget. Since the creation of the MPS in 1829, 2 Albert Medals, 174 King's Police Medals for Gallantry (including 33 for entering waters to
History of the Metropolitan Police Service first black female officer. On February 1, 1971, Karpal Kaur Sandhu, born in Zanzibar but of Indian heritage, joined the Metropolitan Police and thus became the Metropolitan Police's (and Britain's) first female Asian police officer. This was before India itself had female police officers (the first female police officer in India was Kiran Bedi in 1972). The first Woman Detective Constable was appointed in 1973. 1973 was also the year that the separate Women's Department was fully integrated into the Metropolitan Police. Female police officers did not get equal pay with male police officers until 1974. In 1976 the first