Review of the Force Structure 1985-6
Divisions in 1860s 1880-1896 1903-1920 1921-1929 1931-1933 1946-1958 1965 1985-1986 1993-1994 2000 2018-2019
When Sir Kenneth Newman became Commissioner in 1985, he set in motion a Force Organisation and Management Review. The Districts were abolished, and the number of Areas were increased to eight, each with a DAC and two Commanders to whom the Divisional Chief Superintendents reported. In effect it took up and adapted the idea of ‘eight by eight’. This entailed uniformed officers wearing a two letter Divisional code on their uniforms rather than the one letter of the earlier District/Division.
The previous V District was split between No 4 and No 5 Areas. One of the principles was that the Division would become regarded as the prime unit of policing.
Area |
Divisions |
1 |
Kings Cross Road (ND), Holloway (NH), Hornsey (YR), Tottenham (YT), Edmonton (YE), Enfield (YF), Chingford (JC), Leytonstone (JL), Barkingside (JB), Ilford (JI) |
2 |
Bethnal Green (HB), Leman Street (HD), Limehouse (HH), Hackney (GH), Stoke Newington (GN), West Ham (KW), East Ham (KE), Dagenham (KG), Romford (KD) |
3 |
Southwark (MD), Carter Street (MS), Peckham (MM), Lewisham (PL), Catford (PD), Bromley (PR), Orpington (PN), Greenwich (RD), Woolwich (RW), Bexleyheath (RY) |
4 |
Kennington (LK), Brixton (LD), Clapham (LM), Streatham (LS), South Norwood (ZN), Croydon (ZD), Epsom (ZP), Wimbledon (VW) |
5 |
Battersea (WA), Tooting (WD), Wandsworth (WW), Kingston (VD), Richmond (TR), Chiswick (TC), Hounslow (TD), Twickenham (TW) |
6 |
Chelsea (BC), Kensington (BD), Notting Hill (BH), Fulham (FF), Hammersmith (FD), Shepherds Bush (FS), Ealing (XD), Southall (XS) Ruislip (XR), Staines (XW) later Spelthorne (TG), Heathrow Airport (ID) |
7 |
Holborn (EO), Kentish Town (EK), Hampstead (SH), Golders Green (SG), Barnet (SA), Kilburn (QK), Wembley (QD), Harrow (QA) |
8 |
Cannon Row (AD), Rochester Row (AR), Gerald Road (AL), Bow Street (CB), West End Central (CD), Vine Street (CV), Marylebone Lane (DM), Paddington (DD), Harrow Road (DR) |
Divisions in 1860s 1880-1896 1903-1920 1921-1929 1931-1933 1946-1958 1965 1985-1986 1993-1994 2000 2018-2019