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Metropolitan Police: Office of the Commissioner: Correspondence and Papers

Description and record details

Reference MEPO 2
Title Metropolitan Police: Office of the Commissioner: Correspondence and Papers
Date 1816-1994
Description

General correspondence and papers relating to the work of the Metropolitan Police, including general police work, special duties in connection with the protection of royalty and other distinguished persons, public buildings and dockyards; also duties concerning traffic and other civil functions. The files also relate to the organisation of the Metropolitan Police. Some papers relate to financial matters including police pay and allowances, expenses, economy measures and so on.

The series covers police work at several historical events and disturbances. It includes files on women police, and files on particular crimes including many causes celebres, many of which are still subject to extended closure.

Piece numbers 863 to 896 not used

Arrangement

Between 1816 and July 1882 the papers are arranged under subject headings without reference to the original file numbers.

Between August 1882 and 1919 the papers are arranged in the order of their former departmental references, which consist of a number preceded by the letters "ON" (Old Number) or "GR" (General Registry).

The registration system in use from 1919 to 1940 provided for the classification of papers under a large number of subject headings, each keyed to a particular number (e.g. "1" - complaints against police). Any sub-classification within these subject categories is indicated by a letter or combination of letters.

The registration system in use from 1940 onwards consists of three numbers. The first number indicates the particular subject, the second, the year in which the file was created and the third, the serial number of the file within its series for that particular year.

Related material

Registers of some of this correspondence are in MEPO 18

Held by The National Archives, Kew
Legal status Public Record(s)
Language

English

Physical description 11550 file(s)
Access conditions Available in microform only unless otherwise stated
Accruals Series is accruing.