The Metropolitan police

The Metropolitan police (also informal the Met) is under the direct responsibility of the Home Secretary, as good order in the capital concerns the central government. The administrative head of the London’s Metropolitan Police is the Commissioner who is appointed by the crown on the recommendation of the Home Secretary.

The area supervised by the London Metropolitan Police includes all of Greater London with the exception of the City of London, which has its own separate police service. Metropolitan police officers can be identified by their white shirts with silver buttons, while the City police wear blue shirts with gold uniform trim.

The Metropolitan Police’s main duties are the detection and prevention of crime, the preservation of public order, the supervision of road traffic and licensing of public vehicles.

Scotland Yard – the main office of the Metropolitan Police is now officially called New Scotland Yard. Its original office was in a building that stood on the site of the palace that once belonged to the Royal family of Scotland. Although it has twice moved to newer, larger buildings it has always kept the same name.

The Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police is based at New Scotland Yard and is often referred to as “Scotland Yard”. It consists of detectives who investigate serious crimes. As well as operating in London they help the regional services to solve crimes with regard to difficult cases. The CID deals with all aspects of criminal investigation and comprises the criminal record office, fingerprint and photography sections, forensic laboratory, and the detective-training school.

There are several departments of the CID that are well known to the British public:

• the Special Branch – the department that deals with political crimes and guards visiting dignitaries, royalty and statesmen;

• the Fraud Squad – the department that deals with financial crimes and investigates people who make money by deceiving other people;

• the Flying Squad – the department that deals with serious crimes, especially armed robbery. The name indicates that the department’s officers are ready to move quickly to the scene of crime.

Scotland Yard keeps files on all known criminals in the United Kingdom. It also assists in the training of police personnel in the countries of the Commonwealth¹. Finally, Scotland Yard is responsible for maintaining links between British law-enforcement agencies and Interpol.

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¹the Commonwealth – Содружество (межгосударственное объединение Великобритании и большинства бывших английских доминионов, колоний и зависимых территорий)

Task 19. Find the English equivalents for the following word combinations; memorize them.

1. назначать по рекомендации кого-либо

2. за исключением

3. поддержание общественного порядка

4. что касается; относительно

5. быть хорошо известным британскому народу

6. охранять приезжающих с визитом высокопоставленных лиц

7. зарабатывать деньги обманом

8. хранить досье на всех известных преступников

9. оказывать помощь в обучении сотрудников полиции

10. поддерживать связи между британскими правоохранительными организациями и Интерполом

Task 20. Answer the questions.

1. The Met, unlike other police services in Britain, is under the direct responsibility of the Home Secretary. Why?

2. Who appoints the Metropolitan Police Commissioner?

3. What does the area supervised by the Metropolitan Police include?

4. How can a Metropolitan police officer be identified?

5. What are the main duties of the Met?

6. What is the name of the main office of the Metropolitan police?

7. Where is the CID of the Metropolitan police based?

8. What do Scotland Yard’s detectives generally do?

9. What does the CID comprise?

10. What does the Special Branch deal with?

11. Whom does the Fraud Squad investigate?

12. What does the name of the Flying Squad indicate?

Task 21. Fill the gaps with prepositions; translate the sentences.

1. The Metropolitan Police are responsible … the preservation … public order … London.

2. The name Scotland Yard is well known not only … the British public, but all over the world.

3. The Police Commissioner is appointed … the recommendation … the Home Secretary.

4. The Metropolitan Police is the only police service … Britain that is … the direct responsibility … the Home Secretary.

5. The original building … Scotland Yard once belonged … the Royal family of Scotland.

6. The City … London police officers can be identified … their blue shirts … gold uniform trim.

7. The detectives of Scotland Yard assist local police services … solving crimes difficult … investigation.

8. The CID deals … all aspects of criminal investigation.

9. When local police need information … some criminal, they apply … Scotland Yard, where files … all known criminals … the UK are kept.

Task 22. Read and translate the text.