The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) scrutinises and supports the work of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), holding to account its Commissioner (the head of the Metropolitan Police) and management team. MPS is the police force responsible for Greater London. It is centrally administered from New Scotland Yard, but is divided into 32 Borough Operational Command Units, which exactly align with the London boroughs (excluding The City of London, which is the separate responsibility of the City of London Police). The MPA has a stated aim to ensure that London has the police force it deserves, but the operational running of the MPS is the duty of the Commissioner. The MPA is composed of 23 members, twelve from the London Assembly and eleven independent members. The Mayor appoints the 12 Assembly Members to the MPA, one of whom must be the Deputy Mayor, ensuring that the political balance reflects that of the London Assembly as a whole. Of the eleven independent members, one must be a magistrate, and one is appointed by the Home Secretary. The Mayor appoints the Chair of the MPA, and may appoint him or herself to this position. The current Chair of the MPA is Kit Malthouse, the Deputy Mayor.
Though accurate, the above information is soon to become out of date, as the changes detailed in The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 come into force in January 2012.
Read a policy briefing on the changes (pdf)
Further information:
- Metropolitan Police Authority – http://www.mpa.gov.uk/
- Metropolitan Police – http://content.met.police.uk/Home
