Editing Chief constable (section)

==Metropolitan Police==

In [[London]], the [[Metropolitan Police]] and the [[City of London Police]] are led by [[Police commissioner|commissioner]]s rather than chief constables. Chief constable was, however, a lower rank in the Metropolitan Police which existed between 1886 and 1946.

In 1869, the [[police division|divisions]] of the Metropolitan Police were grouped into four districts, and four new officers called '''district superintendents''' were appointed to command them, ranking between the [[Superintendent (police)|divisional superintendents]] and the two [[Assistant commissioner of police of the metropolis|assistant commissioners]]. These officers were to be generally military officers, civil servants or lawyers who were directly appointed to the rank. This caused a certain amount of concern, since some saw it as the creation of an "officer class" for the police, which had always been resisted. Their rank badge consisted of crossed [[tipstaff|tipstaves]] in a wreath.

In 1886, the rank of district superintendent was renamed chief constable, as it was decided that it could be confused with the divisional superintendents. Unlike their superiors, chief constables were actually sworn into the office of [[constable]], hence the name. A fifth chief constable was later created in the [[Criminal Investigation Department]]. In 1919 the rank became junior to the new rank of [[deputy assistant commissioner]]s, who took over the districts in 1933, with the chief constables remaining as their deputies until the latter rank was finally renamed [[Deputy commander (Metropolitan Police)|deputy commander]] in 1946.