View source for Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis

{{Short description|Senior English law-enforcement rôle}}
[[File:Met Assistant Commissioner Epaulette.svg|Met Assistant Commissioner Epaulette|100px|right]]
'''Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis''', usually just '''Assistant Commissioner''' ('''AC'''), is the third highest rank in [[London]]'s [[Metropolitan Police]], ranking below [[Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis|Deputy Commissioner]] and above [[Deputy Assistant Commissioner]]. There have usually been four officers in the rank; however, at times there have been five to seven and, as of June 2025, there are six owing to the continuing secondment of [[Stephen Kavanagh]] to [[Interpol]].

From 1 September 2016 the salary is £198,823 (plus £2,373 allowance). This does not include use of private car and pension contributions. This makes them the equal fifth highest paid police officers in the United Kingdom, behind the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner, the Chief Constable of [[Police Scotland]], and the Chief Constable of the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]], and alongside the chief constables of [[West Midlands Police|West Midlands]] and [[Greater Manchester Police|Greater Manchester]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.police-information.co.uk/policepay.htm|title=Police Pay|access-date=2010-12-31|archive-date=2019-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514175023/https://www.police-information.co.uk/policepay.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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==19th century==
The rank of assistant commissioner was introduced by the [[Police Act 1856]], which abolished the two joint commissioners and established a single [[Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis|Commissioner]] (Sir [[Richard Mayne]]) assisted by two assistant commissioners. The Assistant Commissioner (Administrative) was in charge of administration and discipline. The Assistant Commissioner (Executive) was in charge of executive business, supplies and buildings. The first two men to fill these posts were Lieutenant-Colonel [[Douglas Labalmondière]] and Captain [[William C. Harris (police official)|William C. Harris]] respectively. A third was added by the [[Metropolitan Police Act 1884]].

Like the Commissioner, the assistant commissioners were sworn in as [[Justice of the peace|justices of the peace]], although they could not try criminal cases. This continued until 1973. Like the Commissioner, the assistant commissioners were mainly appointed from outside the police until well into the 20th century, although career police officers could and sometimes did rise to the rank.

In 1878, [[Howard Vincent]] was appointed Director of Criminal Intelligence, a post that had equal rank to the assistant commissioners, but not the title. On his resignation in 1884, his post was replaced by a third assistant commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner (Crime).

==Lettered departments==
Realising that the assistant commissioners' workload was becoming too great, Commissioner Sir [[Edward Henry]], was allowed by the [[Police Act 1909]] to add a fourth assistant commissioner, who took over some of the duties of the Assistant Commissioner (Executive). The four became known as Assistant Commissioners "A", "B", "C" and "L", heading departments with the same letter designations. Assistant Commissioner "A" effectively acted as Deputy Commissioner until 1931, when a separate Deputy Commissioner was appointed. From 1922 until 1931, Assistant Commissioner "A" was generally known as the Deputy Commissioner.

After [[World War I]], Assistant Commissioner "B" became responsible solely for traffic and lost property, with his other former duties divided between Assistant Commissioners "A" and "L". Assistant Commissioner "L" was responsible for "L" (Legal) Department until its reorganisation in 1931. After 1931, he was renamed Assistant Commissioner "D" and became responsible for policy and planning.

By the end of [[World War II]], Assistant Commissioner "A" (Operations and Administration) was responsible for all uniformed police, including specialist units, except traffic police, which were under Assistant Commissioner "B" (Traffic). Assistant Commissioner "C" (Crime) headed the [[Criminal Investigation Department]] (CID), and Assistant Commissioner "D" (Personnel and Training) was responsible for recruitment, training, welfare, communications and [[police dog]]s. In 1970, Commissioner Sir [[John Waldron (police officer)|John Waldron]] designated Assistant Commissioner "D" as the senior Assistant Commissioner. As policing became more technical, Assistant Commissioner "B" also became responsible for technical support.

==Reorganisation in the 1980s and 1990s==
In 1985, Commissioner Sir [[Kenneth Newman]] finally abolished the system of lettered departments. He redesignated the four Assistant Commissioners as:

*Assistant Commissioner Territorial Operations (ACTO), in charge of all uniformed and CID units based on the [[police division|divisions]].
*Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations (ACSO), in charge of all specialised and centralised uniformed and CID units.
*Assistant Commissioner Personnel and Training (ACPT), in charge of all personnel issues, including recruitment, training and welfare.
*Assistant Commissioner Management Support (ACMS), in charge of strategic planning, management services, public relations and a number of other miscellaneous departments.

In 1992, with increasing focus on the Met's image and quality of service, Commissioner Sir [[Peter Imbert, Baron Imbert|Peter Imbert]] redesignated the ACMS as Assistant Commissioner Inspection and Review (ACIR), in charge of collecting performance data from across the [[Metropolitan Police District]].

In 1995, Commissioner Sir [[Paul Condon, Baron Condon|Paul Condon]] introduced the widest-ranging reorganisation when he increased the number of assistant commissioners to six. The previous eight Areas, each commanded by a deputy assistant commissioner (DAC), were reduced to five, each commanded by an assistant commissioner, designated AC 1 to 5. Each assistant commissioner also had force-wide responsibility for a 'portfolio' (such as crime or traffic), setting force policy and managing related headquarters branches. ACSO remained outside the area system and continued to manage the [[Specialist Operations]] units.

==Organisation restructuring in the 21st century==
In 2000, the system changed again, with policing restructured around the [[London borough|boroughs]] and the areas being abolished. The six assistant commissioners were reduced to four again. With the creation of the [[Specialist Crime Directorate (Metropolitan Police)|Specialist Crime Directorate]] under its own assistant commissioner in 2002, there were five assistant commissioners, although this was once again reduced to four in 2008. In 2011, the number was briefly increased to five again, then reduced to four once more. The posts have held varying designations since 2000, with the ACSO being the only post to have remained since the initial reorganisation in 1985.

The assistant commissioners are considered to hold equal rank to the [[chief constable]]s of other [[British police]] forces and wear the same rank insignia: a crown over crossed [[tipstaff|tipstaves]] in a wreath.

==Assistant commissioners from 1856 to 1985==
These positions existed concurrently.

===Assistant Commissioners "A"===
*[[Douglas Labalmondière|Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas Labalmondière]], 1856–1884
*[[Alexander Carmichael Bruce|Sir Alexander Carmichael Bruce]], 1884–1914
*[[Frank Elliott (police officer)|Frank Elliott]], 1914–1918
*[[William Horwood (police commissioner)|Brigadier-General William Horwood]], 1918–1920
*[[James Olive|Sir James Olive]], 1920–1925
*[[Charles Royds|Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Royds]], 1926–1931
*[[Trevor Bigham|Sir Trevor Bigham]], 1931
*[[William David Allan|Lieutenant-Colonel David Allan]], 1931
*[[James Whitehead (police officer)|Brigadier James Whitehead]], 1933–1938
*[[John Carter (police officer)|Lieutenant-Colonel John Carter]], 1938–1940
*[[John Nott-Bower]], 1940–1945
*[[John Ferguson (police officer)|Major John Ferguson]], 1945–1946
*[[Philip Margetson|Major Sir Philip Margetson]], 1946–1957
*[[Alexander Robertson (police officer)|Alexander Robertson]], 1957–1958
*[[Douglas Webb (police officer)|Douglas Webb]], 1958–1961
*[[Ranulph Bacon|Lieutenant-Colonel Ranulph Bacon]], 1961–1963
*[[John Waldron (police officer)|Sir John Waldron]], 1963–1966
*[[John Maxwell Hill|John Hill]], 1966–1968
*[[Andrew Way]], 1968–1969
*[[James Starritt]], 1970–1972
*[[John Mastel]], 1972–1976
*[[Wilford Gibson]], 1977–1984
*[[Geoffrey Dear]], 1984–1985

===Assistant Commissioners "B"===
*[[William C. Harris (police official)|Captain William C. Harris]], 1856–1881
*[[Richard Lyons Otway Pearson|Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Pearson]], 1881–1890
*[[Charles Howard (police officer)|Sir Charles Howard]], 1890–1902
*[[Frederick Wodehouse|Major Sir Frederick Wodehouse]], 1902–1918<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27479 |date=3 October 1902|page=6273}}</ref>
*[[Frank Elliott (police officer)|Frank Elliott]], 1918–1931
*[[Alker Tripp|Sir Alker Tripp]], 1932–1947
*[[Henry Dalton (police officer)|Sir Henry Dalton]], 1947–1956
*[[Joseph Simpson (police officer)|Joseph Simpson]], 1956–1957
*[[Douglas Webb (police officer)|Douglas Webb]], 1957–1958
*[[John Waldron (police officer)|John Waldron]], 1958–1963
*[[Andrew Way]], 1963–1968
*[[Robert Mark]], 1968
*[[James Starritt]], 1968–1970
*[[Colin Woods]], 1970–1972
*[[Henry Hunt (police officer)|Henry Hunt]], 1972–1974
*[[Patrick Bernard Kavanagh|Patrick Kavanagh]], 1974–1977
*[[Jock Wilson (police officer)|Jock Wilson]], 1977–1982
*[[John Dellow]], 1982–1984
*[[Colin Sutton]], 1984–1985

===Assistant Commissioners "C"===
*[[James Monro]], 1884–1888
*[[Robert Anderson (theologian)|Sir Robert Anderson]], 1888–1901
*[[Edward Henry]], 1901–1903
*[[Melville Macnaghten|Sir Melville Macnaghten]], 1903–1913
*[[Basil Thomson|Sir Basil Thomson]], 1913–1921
*[[Wyndham Childs|Major-General Sir Wyndham Childs]], 1921–1928
*[[Trevor Bigham|Sir Trevor Bigham]], 1928–1931
*[[Norman Kendal|Sir Norman Kendal]], 1931–1945
*[[Ronald Howe]], 1945–1953
*[[Joe Jackson (police officer)|Sir Joe Jackson]], 1953–1963
*[[Ranulph Bacon|Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Ranulph Bacon]], 1963–1966
*[[Peter Brodie (police officer)|Peter Brodie]], 1966–1972
*[[Colin Woods]], 1972–1975
*[[Jock Wilson (police officer)|Jock Wilson]], 1975–1977
*[[Gilbert Kelland]], 1977–1984
*[[John Dellow]], 1984–1985

===Assistant Commissioners "L"===
*[[Frederick Bullock (police officer)|Frederick Bullock]], 1909–1914
*[[Trevor Bigham]], 1914–1928
*[[Norman Kendal]], 1928–1931
===Assistant Commissioners "D"===
*[[Maurice Tomlin|Major Maurice Tomlin]], 1932–1933
*[[Percy Laurie|Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Laurie]], 1933–1936
*[[George Abbiss|Sir George Abbiss]], 1936–1946
*[[Philip Margetson|Major Philip Margetson]], 1946
*[[Arthur Young (police officer)|Colonel Arthur Young]], 1947–1950
*[[John Rymer-Jones|Brigadier John Rymer-Jones]], 1950–1959
*[[Tom Mahir]], 1959–1967
*[[Robert Mark]], 1967–1968
*[[John Maxwell Hill|John Hill]], 1968–1972
*[[John Mastel]], 1972
*[[John Alderson (police officer)|John Alderson]], 1973
*[[Henry Hunt (police officer)|Henry Hunt]], 1974–1978
*[[John Gerrard (police officer)|John Gerrard]], 1978–1981
*[[Geoffrey Dear]], 1981–1984
*[[Geoffrey McLean]], 1984–1985

==Assistant commissioners from 1985 onwards==
These were not all concurrently existing positions.

===Areas===

====Assistant Commissioner Central Area (1)====
*[[Tony Speed]], 1994–1999

====Assistant Commissioners North-West Area (2)====
*[[Bill Skitt]], 1994–1997
*[[Anderson Dunn]], 1997–2000

====Assistant Commissioners North-East Area (3)====
*[[Anderson Dunn]], 1994–1997
*[[Paul Manning (police officer, born 1947)|Paul Manning]], 1997–2000

====Assistant Commissioner South-East Area (4)====
*[[Ian Johnston (police officer)|Ian Johnston]], 1994–2000

====Assistant Commissioners South-West Area (5)====
*[[Paul Manning (police officer, born 1947)|Paul Manning]], 1994–1997
*[[Denis O'Connor (police officer)|Denis O'Connor]], 1997–2000

===Portfolios===
====Current====
=====Assistant Commissioners Frontline Policing=====
*[[Martin Hewitt (police officer)|Martin Hewitt]], 2018
*[[Mark Simmons (police officer)|Mark Simmons]], 2018–2020
*[[Nick Ephgrave]], 2020–2022
*[[Louisa Rolfe]], 2022–2024
*[[Matt Twist]], 2024–present

=====Assistant Commissioners Met Operations=====
*[[Stephen House|Sir Stephen House]], 2018
*[[Nick Ephgrave]], 2018–2020
*[[Louisa Rolfe]], 2020–2022
*[[Matt Twist]], 2022–2024 (temporary 2022–2023)
*[[Pippa Mills]], 2024–present

=====Assistant Commissioner Professionalism=====
*[[Martin Hewitt (police officer)|Martin Hewitt]], 2014–2016
*[[Helen King (police officer)|Helen King]], 2016–2017
*[[Fiona Taylor (police officer)|Fiona Taylor]], 2017 (temporary)
*[[Helen Ball (police officer)|Helen Ball]], 2017–2021
*[[Amanda Pearson]], 2021–2022 (temporary)
*[[Barbara Gray (police officer)|Barbara Gray]], 2022–2024
*[[Laurence Taylor]], 2024–present (temporary)

=====Assistant Commissioners Specialist Operations=====
*[[John Dellow]], 1985–1987
*[[Hugh Annesley (police officer)|Hugh Annesley]], 1987–1989
*[[John Smith (police officer)|John Smith]], 1989–1990
*[[William Taylor (police officer)|William Taylor]], 1990–1994
*[[David Veness|Sir David Veness]], 1994–2005
*[[Andy Hayman]], 2005–2007
*[[Peter Clarke (police officer)|Peter Clarke]], 2008 (acting)
*[[Bob Quick (police officer)|Bob Quick]], 2008–2009
*[[John Yates (police officer)|John Yates]], 2009–2011
*[[Cressida Dick]], 2011–2014
*[[Mark Rowley (police officer)|Mark Rowley]], 2014–2018
*[[Neil Basu]], 2018–2021
*[[Matt Jukes]], 2021–2025
*Vicki Evans, 2025–present (temporary)

=====Assistant Commissioner Trust and Legitimacy=====
*[[Pippa Mills]], 2023–2024
*Rachel Williams, 2024–present (temporary)

=====Assistant Commissioner (seconded to Interpol)=====
*[[Stephen Kavanagh]], 2020–present

====Lapsed or merged====
=====Assistant Commissioners Territorial Operations=====
*[[Geoffrey McLean]], 1985–1990
*[[Robert Hunt (police officer)|Robert Hunt]], 1991–1995

=====Assistant Commissioners Management Support=====
*[[Colin Sutton]], 1985–1987
*[[John Smith (police officer)|John Smith]], 1987–1989
*[[Peter Winship]], 1989–1992

=====Assistant Commissioners Personnel and Training=====
*[[Hugh Annesley (police officer)|Hugh Annesley]], 1985–1987
*[[Colin Sutton]], 1987–1988
*[[Wyn Jones (police officer)|Wyn Jones]], 1989–1993

=====Assistant Commissioner Inspection and Review=====
*[[Peter Winship]], 1992–1995

=====Assistant Commissioner Strategic Development=====
*[[Anderson Dunn]], 2000–2001

=====Assistant Commissioners Territorial Policing=====
*[[Ian Johnston (police officer)|Ian Johnston]], 2000–2001
*[[Michael J. Todd]], 2001–2003
*[[Tim Godwin]], 2003–2009
*[[Rose Fitzpatrick]], 2009 (temporary)
*[[Ian McPherson (police officer)|Ian McPherson]], 2009–2011
*[[Simon Byrne (police officer)|Simon Byrne]], 2011–2014
*[[Helen King (police officer)|Helen King]], 2014–2016
*[[Martin Hewitt (police officer)|Martin Hewitt]], 2016–2018

=====Assistant Commissioners Policy, Review and Standards=====
*[[Michael J. Todd]], 2000–2001
*[[Tarique Ghaffur]], 2001–2002

=====Assistant Commissioner Human Resources=====
*[[Bernard Hogan-Howe]], 2001–2004

=====Assistant Commissioners Specialist Crime=====
*[[Tarique Ghaffur]], 2002–2006
*[[Stephen House]], 2006–2007
*[[John Yates (police officer)|John Yates]], 2007–2009
*[[Cressida Dick]], 2009–2011

=====Assistant Commissioners Central Operations=====
*[[Stephen House]], 2005–2006
*[[Tarique Ghaffur]], 2006–2008
*[[Chris Allison (police officer)|Chris Allison]], 2008–2010
*[[Lynne Owens]], 2010–2011

=====Assistant Commissioner Service Improvement=====
*[[Alan Brown (police officer)|Alan Brown]], 2005–2006

=====Assistant Commissioner Professional Standards and Intelligence=====
*[[John Yates (police officer)|John Yates]], 2006–2007

=====Assistant Commissioners Operational Services=====
*[[John Yates (police officer)|John Yates]], 2007
*[[Alf Hitchcock]], 2007–2008 (acting)

=====Assistant Commissioner Olympics and Paralympics=====
*[[Chris Allison (police officer)|Chris Allison]], 2011–2013

=====Assistant Commissioners Central Operations and Specialist Crime=====
*[[Lynne Owens]], 2011
*[[Mark Rowley (police officer)|Mark Rowley]], 2011–2014

=====Assistant Commissioner Operation Resolve (seconded to the Home Office)=====
*[[Jon Stoddart]], 2012–2016
*[[Rob Beckley (police officer)|Rob Beckley]], 2016–2024<ref>{{cite web |last=Beckley |first=Rob |date=March 2024 |title=Robert Beckley QPM |url=https://uk.linkedin.com/in/robert-beckley-qpm-20797342 |website=LinkedIn |location=United States of America |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref>

=====Assistant Commissioners Specialist Crime and Operations=====
*[[Cressida Dick]], 2014–2015
*[[Pat Gallan]], 2015–2018

=====Assistant Commissioner (seconded to National Police Chiefs' Council)=====
*[[Martin Hewitt (police officer)|Martin Hewitt]], 2019–2023

=====Assistant Commissioner COVID-19 response=====
*[[Mark Simmons (police officer)|Mark Simmons]], 2020

=====Assistant Commissioner Transformation=====
*[[Matt Jukes]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.met.police.uk/news/new-assistant-commissioner-appointed-411126?text=Following%20a%20selection%20process%20earlier,has%20held%20since%20January%202018.|title="New Assistant Commissioner appointed", Metropolitan Police, 22 September 2020}}</ref> 2020–2021

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Metropolitan Police}}

[[Category:Ranks in the Metropolitan Police]]
[[Category:Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis| ]]