Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
- 2 min read
- 3 chapters
Explore on Lably
ToursExplore Lably’s 3D toursHistory
In addition to the assistant commissioners, the position of Deputy Commissioner was legally established as a separate rank in 1931. However, the Assistant Commissioner "A" had acted as de facto deputy for some years and had been given the courtesy title of Deputy Commissioner since 1922. The Deputy Commissioner's Crown appointment continued to be Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis until at least the early 1970s. Sir Jim Starritt may have been the first officer to have been appointed Deputy Commissioner by the Crown.
Sign in to keep reading
2 more chapters are free with a Lably account.
Insignia
The badge of rank worn on the epaulettes by the Deputy Commissioner is unique in the British police service, this being a crown, above two small pips placed side by side, above crossed tipstaves in a wreath. This badge was introduced in 2001; before that the Deputy Commissioner wore the same rank badge as the assistant commissioners – a crown over crossed tipstaves in a wreath.
Deputy Commissioners
Those listed in bold type became Commissioner.
- Sir James Olive, 1922–1925
- Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Royds, 1926–1931
- The Hon. Sir Trevor Bigham, 1931–1935
- Colonel The Hon. Sir Maurice Drummond, 1935–1946
- Sir John Nott-Bower, 1946–1953
- Sir Ronald Howe, 1953–1957
- Joseph Simpson, 1957–1958
- Sir Alexander Robertson, 1958–1961
- Douglas Webb, 1961–1966
- Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Ranulph Bacon, 1966
- Sir John Waldron, 1966–1968
- Robert Mark, 1968–1972
- John Hill, 1972
- Sir Jim Starritt, 1972–1975
- Sir Colin Woods, 1975–1977
- Patrick Kavanagh, 1977–1983
- Albert Laugharne, 1983–1985
- Peter Imbert, 1985–1987
- Sir John Dellow, 1987–1991
- Sir John Smith, 1991–1995
- Sir Brian Hayes, 1995–1998
- Sir John Stevens, 1998–2000
- Sir Ian Blair, 2000–2005
- Sir Paul Stephenson, 2005–2009
- Tim Godwin, 2009–2011
- Sir Craig Mackey, 2012–2018
- Sir Stephen House, 2018–2022 (acting commissioner 2021–2022)
- Helen Ball, 2021–2022 (acting)
- Dame Lynne Owens, 2023–present (interim 2022–2023)