Murder Investigation Team
Encyclopedia
Murder/Major Investigation Teams (MIT) are the specialised homicide squads of the Metropolitan Police
in London
, England
. Forming part of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command
, itself part of the Specialist Crime Directorate
, there is one MIT for each Borough Operational Command Unit. MITs investigate cases of murder
, manslaughter
, attempted murder where the evidence of intent is unambiguous, or where a risk assessment identifies substantive risk to life. They also undertake investigations into missing persons or abductions where there is a reason to suspect life has been taken or is under threat and other investigations identified for specialist needs.
MITs were established in 2000 to replace the former Area Major Incident Pool
s (AMIPs) as part of Scotland Yard
's Serious Crime Group. In 2001, there were 31 murder investigation teams operating in London
, made up of 834 police officers, 182 civilian staff, and 14 senior detectives.
Currently, murder investigation in London
is undertaken by the Specialist Crime Directorate
's Homicide Command, which is split geographically into three units (West, East and South), each led by a Detective Chief Superintendent. Each of the Command Units has nine Major Investigation Teams (MITs), consisting of 33 staff, led by a Detective Chief Inspector (DCI), who performs the role of senior investigating officer (SIO).
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Forming part of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command
Homicide and Serious Crime Command
The Homicide and Serious Crime Command is an Operational Command Unit of the Metropolitan Police responsible for the investigation of homicide and other serious crimes in London...
, itself part of the Specialist Crime Directorate
Specialist Crime Directorate
The Specialist Crime Directorate is one of the main branches of the London Metropolitan Police Service. It deals with a wide range of criminality from murder to organised crime. Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick is currently the head of the directorate...
, there is one MIT for each Borough Operational Command Unit. MITs investigate cases of murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
, attempted murder where the evidence of intent is unambiguous, or where a risk assessment identifies substantive risk to life. They also undertake investigations into missing persons or abductions where there is a reason to suspect life has been taken or is under threat and other investigations identified for specialist needs.
MITs were established in 2000 to replace the former Area Major Incident Pool
Area Major Incident Pool
The Area Major Incident Pool is a defunct unit of Greater London's Metropolitan Police.From 1985 to 2000, the Area Major Incident Pool consisted of experienced detectives available to assist divisional, station based CID detectives in the investigation of major crimes, such as non-domestic murders...
s (AMIPs) as part of Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
's Serious Crime Group. In 2001, there were 31 murder investigation teams operating in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, made up of 834 police officers, 182 civilian staff, and 14 senior detectives.
Currently, murder investigation in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
is undertaken by the Specialist Crime Directorate
Specialist Crime Directorate
The Specialist Crime Directorate is one of the main branches of the London Metropolitan Police Service. It deals with a wide range of criminality from murder to organised crime. Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick is currently the head of the directorate...
's Homicide Command, which is split geographically into three units (West, East and South), each led by a Detective Chief Superintendent. Each of the Command Units has nine Major Investigation Teams (MITs), consisting of 33 staff, led by a Detective Chief Inspector (DCI), who performs the role of senior investigating officer (SIO).