Specialist Operations
Encyclopedia
Specialist Operations is a directorate of the Metropolitan Police
. At its peak, SO was a group of twenty specialist units, which were formed to give the Metropolitan Police a specialist policing capability. The SO designation was implemented in 1986 as part of Sir Kenneth Newman
's restructuring of the Metropolitan Police Service. Most of the units designated SO units were already in existence, many of them as departments of C Division and its branches, and all were presided over by an Assistant Commissioner of Special Operations (ACSO).
.
is split into three branches:
, formerly the Anti-Terrorist Branch
and Special Branch
aims to protect London and the UK from the threat of terrorism
. The CT Command brings together intelligence gathering, analysis and development with investigation and operational support activity.
Incorporates financial, resources and HR support for the SO Business Group, including Assistant Commissioner Yates's private office. It also provides additional security and counter-terrorism co-ordination for London and strategic engagement with communities to counteract terrorism.
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...
. At its peak, SO was a group of twenty specialist units, which were formed to give the Metropolitan Police a specialist policing capability. The SO designation was implemented in 1986 as part of Sir Kenneth Newman
Kenneth Newman
Sir Kenneth Leslie Newman, GBE, QPM was Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1982 to 1987 and Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary from 1976 to 1980...
's restructuring of the Metropolitan Police Service. Most of the units designated SO units were already in existence, many of them as departments of C Division and its branches, and all were presided over by an Assistant Commissioner of Special Operations (ACSO).
Current structure
Specialist Operations is made up of three Commands commanded by Assistant Commissioner Cressida DickCressida Dick
Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, QPM is a senior officer in London's Metropolitan Police. Before 2005 she attracted little media attention, but became well-known as having been the officer in command of the operation which led to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes...
.
Protection Command
Protection CommandProtection Command
The Protection Command is one of the three Commands within the Specialist Operations directorate of London's Metropolitan Police Service. Within the Command, there are two branches - Specialist Protection and Royalty Protection, who provides protective security to the government/diplomatic...
is split into three branches:
- Specialist Protection (SO1)
- Provides armed personal protection services for ministersMinister (government)A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
and public officials at threat from terrorism, including visiting heads of government and other public figures.- Royalty Protection (SO14)
- Provides protection of the MonarchMonarchy of the United KingdomThe monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
and other members of the Royal FamilyBritish Royal FamilyThe British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
. The OCU is divided into Residential Protection, Personal and Close Protection and the Special Escort GroupSpecial Escort GroupSpecial Escort Group may be a reference to:* The Special Escort Group of the Metropolitan Police, responsible for the escort of important persons or valuable or hazardous cargoes in London, England....
(SEG) who provide mobile protection.- Diplomatic Protection GroupDiplomatic Protection GroupThe Diplomatic Protection Group is a Specialist Operations branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The unit's main purpose is to provide specialist protection for diplomatic residencies in London, such as embassies, high commissions and consular sections...
(SO6)
- Diplomatic Protection Group
- Provides protection for foreign missions in London, including protecting embassies, and the residences of visiting heads of state, heads of government and ministers.
Counter Terrorism Command (SO15)
The Counter Terrorism CommandCounter Terrorism Command
Counter Terrorism Command or SO15 is a Specialist Operations branch within London's Metropolitan Police Service. Counter Terrorism Command was established as a result of the merging of the Anti-Terrorist Branch , and the Special Branch in 2006, to form a single counter-terrorism investigative unit...
, formerly the Anti-Terrorist Branch
Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch
The Anti-Terrorist Branch was a Specialist Operations branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service, formed to respond to terrorist activities within the capital....
and Special Branch
Special Branch
Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security in British and Commonwealth police forces, as well as in the Royal Thai Police...
aims to protect London and the UK from the threat of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. The CT Command brings together intelligence gathering, analysis and development with investigation and operational support activity.
Protective Security Command (SO2)
- Palace of Westminster DivisionPalace of Westminster DivisionThe Palace of Westminster Division is a branch of the Specialist Operations Directorate, within London's Metropolitan Police Service. SO17 is responsible for security at the Palace of Westminster, along with surrounding buildings which house administrative functions...
(SO17) - Aviation Security Operational Command UnitAviation Security Operational Command UnitThe Aviation Security Operational Command Unit is a Specialist Operations unit of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The unit is responsible for providing law enforcement and security for both Heathrow and London City airports...
(SO18)
Incorporates financial, resources and HR support for the SO Business Group, including Assistant Commissioner Yates's private office. It also provides additional security and counter-terrorism co-ordination for London and strategic engagement with communities to counteract terrorism.
Historical structure
Due to continual restructuring of the Metropolitan Police, only a few of the original SO units still exist in their original form and still use the SO designation. These are marked in bold. Where possible, the current name or organisation of the former SO unit is listed in italics. Where the SO designation has been reassigned to another unit, the units are listed in order- SO1 – Specialist Protection (Merged with SO14, forming the Protection CommandProtection CommandThe Protection Command is one of the three Commands within the Specialist Operations directorate of London's Metropolitan Police Service. Within the Command, there are two branches - Specialist Protection and Royalty Protection, who provides protective security to the government/diplomatic...
) - SO2 – Crime Support Branch/Department Support Group
- SO3 – Scenes of Crime Branch/Directorate of Forensic Services (Now part of the Specialist Crime DirectorateSpecialist Crime DirectorateThe 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...
as SCD4 Forensic ServicesForensic ServicesForensic Services is a unit of the Metropolitan Police of London, England. Part of the Specialist Crime Directorate, their duties range from evidence recovery following burglaries to anti-terrorism work. It is divided into six units:...
) - SO4 – National Identification ServiceNational Identification ServiceThe National Identification Service is a department of the London Metropolitan Police which provides a range of support services on behalf of the Metropolitan Police and other police forces.All SO4's services are connected with criminal records and include a remit to act as the National...
- SO5 – Miscellaneous Force Indexes/Child Protection (now SCD5 Child Abuse Investigation TeamChild Abuse Investigation TeamChild Abuse Investigation Team/Unit are units within police forces of the United Kingdom, responsible for investigating offences relating to minors....
) - SO6 – Fraud Squad (now SCD6 Economic and Specialist CrimeEconomic and Specialist CrimeEconomic and Specialist Crime is a branch of the Specialist Crime Directorate within London's Metropolitan Police Service. The unit's main responsibility is to both investigate and take steps to prevent fraud, along with a wide range of other fraudulent crimes which require specialist knowledge and...
) - SO7 – Serious and Organised Crime (Renamed to Serious and Organised Crime GroupSerious and Organised Crime GroupThe Serious and Organised Crime Command is a unit of the Metropolitan Police. It is part of the Specialist Crime Directorate and is divided into 10 units:...
, SCD7) - SO8 – Forensic Science Laboratory
- SO9 – Flying SquadFlying SquadThe Flying Squad is a branch of the Specialist Crime Directorate, within London's Metropolitan Police Service. The Squad's purpose is to investigate commercial armed robberies, along with the prevention and investigation of other serious armed crime...
(Now in SCD7, but retains same name and role). - SO10SO10SO10 was the former designation of the Metropolitan Police's Covert Operations Group.-History:The group's origins can be traced back to 1960, with the formation of what was known as the Criminal Investigation Branch, which later evolved and was merged into SO10 and the Public Order Unit...
– Crime Operations Group (now SCD10 Covert Policing) - SO11SO11SO11 or Specialist Operations - Intelligence is a defunct branch of Scotland Yard. The unit was tasked with gathering intelligence for the police....
– Criminal Intelligence Branch (Renamed to Public Order Operational Command Unit, COCentral OperationsCentral Operations is a major directorate of the London Metropolitan Police Service that provides operational support to the rest of the service...
11) - SO12 – Special BranchSpecial BranchSpecial Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security in British and Commonwealth police forces, as well as in the Royal Thai Police...
(Merged with SO13 to create the Counter Terrorism CommandCounter Terrorism CommandCounter Terrorism Command or SO15 is a Specialist Operations branch within London's Metropolitan Police Service. Counter Terrorism Command was established as a result of the merging of the Anti-Terrorist Branch , and the Special Branch in 2006, to form a single counter-terrorism investigative unit...
) - SO13 – Anti-Terrorism Branch (Merged with SO12)
- SO14 – Royalty Protection BranchProtection CommandThe Protection Command is one of the three Commands within the Specialist Operations directorate of London's Metropolitan Police Service. Within the Command, there are two branches - Specialist Protection and Royalty Protection, who provides protective security to the government/diplomatic...
(Merged with SO1) - SO15 – Counter Terrorism CommandCounter Terrorism CommandCounter Terrorism Command or SO15 is a Specialist Operations branch within London's Metropolitan Police Service. Counter Terrorism Command was established as a result of the merging of the Anti-Terrorist Branch , and the Special Branch in 2006, to form a single counter-terrorism investigative unit...
- SO16 – Diplomatic Protection GroupDiplomatic Protection GroupThe Diplomatic Protection Group is a Specialist Operations branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The unit's main purpose is to provide specialist protection for diplomatic residencies in London, such as embassies, high commissions and consular sections...
(Now within the Protection CommandProtection CommandThe Protection Command is one of the three Commands within the Specialist Operations directorate of London's Metropolitan Police Service. Within the Command, there are two branches - Specialist Protection and Royalty Protection, who provides protective security to the government/diplomatic...
). - SO17 – PNCPolice National ComputerThe Police National Computer is a computer system used extensively by law enforcement organisations across the United Kingdom. It went live in 1974 and now consists of several databases available 24 hours a day, giving access to information of national and local significance.From October 2009, the...
Bureau (now the Police Information Technology Organisation) - SO18 – Aviation Security/Airport Policing (Now Aviation Security Operational Command UnitAviation Security Operational Command UnitThe Aviation Security Operational Command Unit is a Specialist Operations unit of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The unit is responsible for providing law enforcement and security for both Heathrow and London City airports...
, CO18 within Central Operations) - SO19 – Force Firearms Unit (Specialist Firearms CommandSpecialist Firearms CommandCentral Operations Specialist Firearms Command is a Central Operations branch within Greater London's Metropolitan Police Service. The Command is responsible for providing a firearms-response capability, assisting the rest of the service, which is normally unarmed...
, CO19) - SO20 – Forensic Medical Examiners Branch