Metropolitan Police Divisions 1880 - 1896

1829-1839   Divisions in 1860s   1880-1896   1903-1920   1921-1929   1931-1933   1946-1958   1965   1985-1986   1993-1994   2000   2018-2019

1880

 A reorganisation adjusted boundaries for parts of G, H, K and Y Divisions.   Arbour Square (also known as Stepney)  and Shadwell were transferred from K (Stepney) to H (Whitechapel).  Bow (ie Bow Road) replaced Stepney as the Divisional station for K Division (PO 15 May 1880).   In 1880 Rotherhithe moved back from R to M Division (PO 9 August 1880).  From 22 October 1883 M Division had four sub-divisions, Southwark, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Grange Road. 

April 1886 reorganisation – including the new J (Bethnal Green) and F (Paddington) Divisions 

On 1 April 1886, a couple of years before the Whitechapel Murders brought the policing demands of London’s East End into sharp focus, a further reorganisation took place, introducing a new J Division (Bethnal Green) that included, for instance, Chigwell, Dalston, Hackney, Waltham Abbey, Woodford, Leyton, Leytonstone and Loughton.   The new F Division included Paddington (PO 25 March 1886) 

Y Division at that time then encompassed Kentish Town, Somers Town, Caledonian Road, Holloway, Highgate, Hornsey, Enfield, Wood Green, Southgate, and Potters Bar. 

Carter Street was transferred from P to L Division 

In central London, A Division was extended to Vauxhall Bridge Road to include Rochester Row, and became known as Westminster rather than Whitehall.   B Division became Chelsea.    George Street, later Tottenham Court Road, was part of C Division.  

Cheshunt and Edmonton and Enfield Highway /Ponders End were transferred from Y to N Division. 

O Division is sometimes referred to.   This was never a territorial division, but was used, complete with Divisional numbers on uniforms, for re-engaged pensioners which supplemented the number required for the 1887 and 1897 Jubilee celebrations.  In May 1935 there was a similarly short-lived O Division for the silver jubilee of King George V, and in May 1937 for the coronation of King George VI. 

An X Division was temporarily formed from February to December 1862 for the International Exhibition. 

A map at the Metropolitan Police Museum appears to reflect this reorganisation, but its exact date is unclear and our apologies are due for the poor reproduction:

 1888

 When Chingford police station was built, reorganisation of boundaries resulted in Enfield Highway / Ponders End being transferred from N to Y Division in March 1888.  Parts of T (Hammersmith) Division involving some of Brentford, Shepherds Bush and Chiswick were transferred to X (Kilburn) Division. 

1889 

The London County Council was formed, and this caused some revision of boundaries.  

At this stage Mitcham was recorded as a station on P Division for instance, but by 1912 had been transferred to V Division.   Wood Green sub-division was formed (PO 4 May 1889) so that Y Division then comprised Kentish Town, Upper Holloway, Holloway, Hornsey, Enfield and Wood Green.

 1896 

A map produced by Stanfords dated 1896 shows the exterior boundary of the MPD and the Inner London area: 

  1829-1839  Divisions in 1860s   1880-1896   1903-1920   1921-1929   1931-1933   1946-1958   1965   1985-1986   1993-1994   2000   2018-2019