Metropolitan Police Dogs and Mounted Branch
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| Metropolitan Police Dogs and Mounted Branch | |
|---|---|
| Name | Metropolitan Police Dogs and Mounted Branch |
| Formed | 1880s (Mounted), 1930s (Dogs) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Agency | Metropolitan Police Service |
| Headquarters | New Scotland Yard |
| Personnel | Approx. 300 (Mounted), Approx. 250 (Dog handlers) (varies) |
| Animals | Horses, Dogs (German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retrievers) |
| Website | Metropolitan Police Service |
Metropolitan Police Dogs and Mounted Branch
The Metropolitan Police Dogs and Mounted Branch provides specialist operational capability to the Metropolitan Police Service across Greater London, supporting public order, crime detection, search, and ceremonial duties. The Branch operates alongside units such as the Specialist Crime Directorate, Counter Terrorism Command, Public Order Branch, and the Territorial Policing Command, engaging with partners including the British Transport Police, City of London Police, and local London borough councils.
History
The Mounted element traces roots to the 19th century with influences from the Royal Horse Guard, Household Cavalry, and policing reforms following the Metropolitan Police Act 1829 and the work of Sir Robert Peel, while the Dogs section developed amid interwar advances in policing techniques linked to units like the Metropolitan Police Criminal Investigation Department and innovations from the Royal Ulster Constabulary and London County Council initiatives. During both world wars the Branch integrated practices from the Territorial Army and collaborated with the Ministry of Defence for logistics and requisitioning, as seen during the Blitz. Post-war modernisation paralleled reforms in the Police Reform Act 2002 and operational changes after events such as the Notting Hill Carnival disturbances and the 1981 Brixton riots, which shifted emphasis to public order and community engagement. The development of dog capabilities reflected techniques used by German Schutzpolizei and post-WWII exchanges with Scandinavian police forces, leading to breeds like the German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois becoming standard, while search and detection roles later adopted methods from the Highway Patrol and Border Force.
Organization and Structure
The Branch is structured into geographically based Mounted Units and Dog Units aligned with the Metropolitan Police Service's borough divisions and specialist commands such as Specialist Operations and Specialist Crime. Leadership includes senior officers with links to the College of Policing and advisory input from veterinary specialists trained at institutions like the Royal Veterinary College and collaborations with Defra-linked animal welfare entities. Operational liaison occurs with the Home Office, Mayor of London's office, and cross-jurisdictional counterparts including the National Police Chiefs' Council and Association of Chief Police Officers (historical frameworks). Administration uses systems compatible with New Scotland Yard IT infrastructure and the Police National Computer for record-keeping.
Roles and Duties
Mounted teams provide crowd control for events such as Wimbledon Championships, Notting Hill Carnival, Chelsea Flower Show, and royal ceremonies involving the Palace of Westminster and Buckingham Palace, while Dog Units conduct searches for suspects, evidence recovery, narcotics detection supporting the National Crime Agency, and explosives detection alongside Counter Terrorism Command. Further duties include wildlife policing in conjunction with the Royal Parks authorities, missing person searches with the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade, and public reassurance patrols on transport hubs like Heathrow Airport and St Pancras International. The Branch also supports major incidents including responses to the 7 July 2005 London bombings and public order policing during demonstrations at Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square.
Training and Selection
Selection for mounted roles often draws candidates with equestrian backgrounds from the Metropolitan Police Horse Stables and affiliated riding schools, with training influenced by protocols from the British Horse Society and military equitation standards of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. Dog handlers are selected through competitive assessments reflecting practices from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals welfare guidance and canine behaviour research from the University of Cambridge and University of Edinburgh. Training regimes cover public order tactics borrowed from the Public Order Commander curriculum, search certification aligned with College of Policing frameworks, and specialist detection courses mirroring procedures used by the Border Force and Ministry of Defence Police. Continuous professional development includes workshops with the RSPCA, exchanges with Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch (history) partners across Europe, and accreditation standards formerly overseen by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Equipment and Facilities
Facilities include stables at locations proximate to New Scotland Yard and borough command bases, kennels equipped to standards advised by the Royal Veterinary College and Defra. Mounted equipment comprises purpose-built police saddles, high-visibility tack used in coordination with the London Ambulance Service and riot gear protocols compatible with Public Order Branch doctrine. Dog equipment includes scent kits, transport vans meeting DVSA regulations, tracking devices, and forensic collection tools used in conjunction with the Forensic Science Service and Metropolitan Police Forensic Services Directorate. Vehicles and premises comply with health and safety regulations influenced by the Health and Safety Executive.
Notable Operations and Incidents
Operations include large-scale deployments at the 2012 Summer Olympics and responses during the Millennium Dome protests, high-profile searches such as those following the Soham murders investigations with multi-agency coordination, and deployments during the 2011 England riots alongside units from the West Midlands Police and Greater Manchester Police. Incidents involving officer and animal safety have prompted reviews by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and influenced policy changes aligned with the Police Reform Act 2002 and guidance from the College of Policing.
Welfare, Health, and Retirement
Animal welfare policies reflect input from the RSPCA, Royal Veterinary College, and animal charity partnerships like Dogs Trust, with retirement arrangements often involving rehoming facilitated by civic charities and oversight from the Mayor of London's animal welfare advisers. Veterinary care protocols, seasonal fitness programs, and psychological support for handlers reference research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and occupational health services within the Metropolitan Police Service. Awards and recognition have included commendations from civic bodies such as the City of London Corporation for public service.