The Constitutional Structure of the Metropolitan Police

Purists sometimes object that the police themselves are civilians but in practice there is no alternative to describing those employed in the Metropolitan Police Office who are not police officers as “civil staff and this is accepted usage.

When James Olive, the first holder of this appointment, was promoted Chief Constable in 1918, the Police Order expressed the then Commissioner's hope that “this selection of an officer who has worked his way through all the ranks of the service will indicate to all ranks the possibility of obtaining the highest posts in the force”.

There has of course been an increase in the next and lower levels of responsibility.

The “The Organisation Department”, on a smaller scale, had in fact been set up towards the end of Lord Byng's period as Commissioner.

Later incorporated in the Complaints Investigation Bureau.

One of the advantages of the old Scotland Yard building, where the majority of senior officers were all on the same floor as the Commissioner.

Currently a civil staff assistant secretary is in charge of the department.

Lancashire and Birmingham also ran their own wireless scheme at that time (and Lancashire still does).