History of the Metropolitan Police Service been headed by a Commissioner, rather than a Chief Constable which is the highest rank in police forces outside London. The first Commissioners to hold the post were Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Rowan and Sir Richard Mayne. When Sir Charles Rowan died, leaving Sir Richard Mayne as the surviving Commissioner, Captain William Hay was drafted in to jointly run the force with Mayne. However, because the two Commissioners did not agree on methods of running the force, since 1855 it was decided that only one Commissioner would run the force. Metropolitan Police patrols took to the streets on 29 September 1829,
Organisation and structure of the Metropolitan Police Service Organisation and structure of the Metropolitan Police Service The Metropolitan Police Service of Greater London is organised into four main directorates, each with differing responsibilities. These are Frontline Policing (formally Territorial Policing), Met Operations (formerly Specialist Crime & Operations), Specialist Operations and six civilian staffed support departments under the umbrella of Met Headquarters. Each is overseen by an Assistant Commissioner, or in the case of a support department a director of police staff which is the equivalent civilian grade. The Management Board, responsible for the strategic direction of the MPS is composed of the senior police leadership including the Commissioner,