The Metropolitan Police Force of London

The Metropolitan Police Force was created in 1829 by an Act of Parliament. It is the largest Police Force in Britain, policing an area of 742 square miles of Greater London.

The Force is controlled by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis under the general directions of the Home Secretary.

The Metropolitan Police District is divided into four Districts. Each District comprises five or six Divisions. The twenty three Divisions are divided into sub-Divisions, and a sub-Division is split into sectional police stations under the control of a Station Officer, who is usually a Sergeant.

The Metropolitan Police is divided into two main branches – the Criminal Investigation Department (the CID), and the uniformed branch. There are a number of specialist branches in the Force such as the Mounted Branch, the Dog Branch, the River Police, the Women police and others.

The main goals of policing include the prevention of crime and disorder, the preservation of the peace, the apprehension of offenders, the recovery of lost or stolen property, and the protection of life, property, and personal liberties.

The popular nickname of the London policeman «bobby» is a tribute to Sir Robert Peel, whose Christian name Bob attached itself to members of the force. Sir Robert Peel reorganized the London police in 1829.

2. Write out the corresponding adjectives from the text:

Metropolis _________________

Person ____________________

Section ____________________

Crime ____________________

To mount _________________

To lose __________________.

3. Match the synonyms:

Act security

Branch freedom

Goal main

Protection affiliation

Liberty bill

Principal purpose

Special specialized

4. Open the brackets using the verbs in correct forms:

1. The Metropolitan Police Force of London (to create) in 1829.

2. It (to control) by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

3. The Metropolitan Police District (to divide) into four Districts.

4. The 23 Divisions (to divide) into sub-divisions.

5. The sub-Divisions (to split) into sectional police stations.

6. The Metropolitan Police (to associate) with the name of Sir Robert Peel.

5. Insert correct articles:

1. … Metropolitan Police is … largest police force in Britain.

2. They police … area of more than 700 square miles.

3. … land mile is equal to 1,609 kilometres.

4. … nautical mile is equal to 1,852 kilometres.

5. … main goals of policing include … prevention of … crime and disorders, and … preservation of peace.

6. Their goals are also … apprehension of offenders, … recovery of lost or stolen property, and … protection of life, property, and personal liberties.

6. Check if you remember:

1. Who supervises and directs the Metropolitan Police?

2. Who heads sectional police stations?

3. How many main branches of the Metropolitan Police Force are there?

4. What specialist branches of police are there in Britain?

7 Complete these sentences:

1. The letters CID stand for _________ .

2. The popular nickname of the London policeman is _________.

3. This word originated from Sir _____________.

4. It was he who reorganized the London police in _________.

5. The full name of the police of London is ____________.

Text №2

1. Some new words to the text:

Law and order – правопорядок, закон и порядок

Beat – район, дозор, обход

Distinctive markings – отличительные особенности, приметы

Fluorescent – флуоресцентный, светящийся

Stripe - полоса

Founder - основатель

Nickname - прозвище

Authority – власть, полномочие

County - графство

Councilor – член совета, советник

To co-operate – сотрудничать, содействовать, объединяться

To give assistance – оказывать содействие, оказывать помощь

To carry – носить, иметь при себе

Gun – орудие, огнестрельное оружие

Robbery – грабеж

To assign – назначать, поручать

To guard - охранять

Circumstance - обстоятельство

Permission - разрешение

To gain – получать, приобретать

To make up – составлять, комплектовать

Voluntarily - добровольно

Traffic warden – инспектор дорожного движения

To obey – выполнять, соблюдать

Speeding – превышение скорости

To safeguard - охранять

Property – собственность, имущество

2. Read and translate the text:

The British Police

The British police officer is a well-known figure to anyone who has visited Britain or who has seen British films. Policemen are to be seen in towns and cities keeping law and order, either walking in pairs down the streets («walking the beat») or driving specially marked police cars. Once known as «panda cars» because of their distinctive markings, these are now often jokingly referred to as «jam sandwiches» because of the pink fluorescent stripe running horizontally around the bodywork. In the past, policemen were often known as «bobbies» after Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the police force. Nowadays, common nicknames include «the cops», «the fuzz», «the pigs», and «the Old Bill» (particularly in London). Few people realize, however, that the police in Britain are organized very differently from many other countries.

Most countries, for example, have a national police force which is controlled by central Government. Britain has no national police force, although police policy is governed by the central Government’s Home Office. Instead, there is a separate police force for each of 52 areas into which the country is divided. Each has a police authority – a committee of local county councillors and magistrates.

The forces co-operate with each other, but it is unusual for members of one force to operate in another’s area unless they are asked to give assistance. This happens when there has been a very serious crime. A Chief Constable (the most senior police officer of a force) may sometimes ask for the assistance of London’s police force, based at New Scotland Yard – known simply as «the Yard».

In most countries the police carry guns. In Britain, however, this is extremely unusual. Policemen do not, as a rule, carry firearms in their day-to-day work, though certain specialist units are trained to do so and can be called upon to help the regular police force in situations where firearms are involved, e.g. terrorist incidents, armed robberies, etc. The only policemen who routinely carry weapons are those assigned to guard politicians and diplomats, or special officers who patrol airports.

In certain circumstances specially trained police officers can be armed, but only with the signed permission of a magistrate.

All members of police must have gained a certain level of academic qualifications at school and undergone a period of intensive training. Like in the army, there are a number of ranks: after the Chief Constable comes the Assistant Chief Constable, Chief Superintendent, Chief Inspector, Inspector, Sergeant and Constable. There are about 150,000 policemen in Britain, or one officer for every 380 people in the population. Women make up about 10 per cent of the police force. The police are helped by a number of Special Constables – members of the public who work for the police voluntarily for a few hours a week.

Each police force has its own Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Members of CIDs are detectives, and they do not wear uniforms. The other uniformed people you see in British towns are traffic wardens. Their job is to make sure that drivers obey the parking regulations. They have no other powers – it is the police who are responsible for controlling offences like speeding, careless driving and drunken driving.

The duties of the police are varied, ranging from assisting at accidents to safeguarding public order and dealing with lost property. One of their main functions is, of course, apprehending criminals and would-be criminals.