The Mounted Police - a distinguished history

In the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities, Londoners are apt to come upon a remarkable sight in the swirling traffic - the easy gait of a horse and rider patrolling as part of their duties in the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch.

Then again, police officers and their horses from this branch are also very highly visible when engaged in controlling crowds at sporting events or public ceremonies. They are fulfilling a tradition of service that goes back to the eighteenth century - to the very roots of police work in London.

Their history began in 1760 when Sir John Fielding, the Bow Street magistrate, developed a plan for mounted patrols to deal with the plague of highwaymen infesting the metropolitan area's turnpikes. The plan was so successful that the original Horse Patrol of eight men was strengthened to more than 50 in 1805. The Bow Street Horse Patrol could then provide protection on all main roads within 20 miles of Charing Cross. Their scarlet waistcoats, blue greatcoats and trousers, and black leather hats and stocks, were the first uniform issued to any police force in the world.

An unofficial motto for the Mounted Police should be ‘We Endure’. Over the years just when the functions of a Mounted Police Officer seem to be redundant another use seems to pop up. With the coming of the railways, the need for Mounted Bow Street officers to protect travellers against the depredations of the Highwayman on the roads ceased.

Around this time rural unrest and poverty was leading to more and more livestock thefts in outer areas and the men and their horses were given this task. These patrols were looked on as so dangerous that the Mounted Officer commonly carried a revolver and sword.

So it was when urbanisation negated the need for country and livestock patrols the Mounted Police were just the thing to carry messages around the Metropolitan Police District. Later, when the telegraph came into use for the Police, the messenger function shrank. Then, increased public unrest dictated the expansion of the Mounted Branch to its present day functions.

The modern day organisation of today’s Mounted Branch began in 1919 when Lt Col Laurie, the ex Commanding officer of the Royal Scots Grey Regiment, took up the appointment of Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police. One of his responsibilities was to re-organise the Mounted Branch. It was at his instigation that the old Remount Depot at Adam and Eve Mews in Kensington was closed and a new Training Establishment was built at Imber Court in Thames Ditton, Surrey. It was here that the new Mounted Branch was to emerge, trained in riding and horse management with new crowd control tactics that still largely hold to this day.

Police officers from all over the world have been trained there along with the regular intake of eager recruits. It was there in 1971 that WPCs Margaret Goodacre and Ann McPherson were to make history as the first women police officers to join the Mounted Branch.

Imber Court today has facilities for the training of both horses and officers. It also houses a small museum documenting the development of Mounted Police and is the administrative centre for the Mounted Branch.
Training the horses

The meticulous and intensive selection and training process for the mounted officers is equalled by that undergone by their horses. Most originate from Ireland and are chosen from a selection of sources that know the requirements of the Metropolitan Police. A half or three-quarter bred animal has been found to be best suited to police work, combining the spirit of a thoroughbred with the strength and stability of a draught horse. The training at Imber Court is individualised for each horse, and usually lasts six months. The training is separated into three stages: Red, Amber and Green.

In the Red stage, the basics are established and the horse is asked to stand still, be calm and polite, have generally good stable manners, be loaded on to and off boxes and generally establish if the horse is suitable to move on to the next stage of training.

The Amber stage takes the development a little further, introducing the horse to new environments, including village centres around Imber Court and local woodlands and open spaces. They are also taught to go through water, stand and move correctly, be mounted from the ground, and accept a riding mac and quarter sheet. At least two months prior to issue, the horse will begin to wear a full uniform kit and be ridden in both saddle and head-kit. It will also be introduced to a stall. Most importantly, the horse will be asked to stand calmly in normal conditions, allowing the officer to deal with public enquiries or incidents.

The Green stage is the final stage before the horse is issued to an officer out on duty. The horse is asked to patrol up to two hours daily, has been escorted to Kingston on more than one occasion, and is able to stand and move forward accordingly in congested traffic from all directions. The horse will also have been to the public order training centre at Gravesend and will have been ridden in the dark. The horse at this stage is introduced to mini disc recordings of military bands, crowds and trains all in a controlled environment within one of the indoor schools at Imber Court. Also in the Green stage the horse is taken out into the open to continue its work with specially developed exercises teaching, for example, lateral movement into crowds, which is the safest and most effective method of crowd control for both the horse and the public.

At all times, the greatest care is taken to maintain a system of training based on encouragement and reward. This produces a well-balanced, obedient animal that is accustomed to all the conditions in which it will have to work.

After the successful completion of all three stages, the horse is then issued to a suitably-trained officer at one of the eight operational mounted stables within the MPS. The training continues and the horse is given the title of a “remount”. All being well, the horse is slowly introduced to more challenging situations including low category football matches, escorting the military and tasked patrols.

At the successful completion of the horse’s training, it is made “Operational” and can be used for many of the demanding roles that the modern Mounted Branch is engaged in.

Horse Retirement

At the end of the police horses working life, the animal is rehomed at one of many identified establishments which have previously contacted the Mounted Branch with a view to offering a home.

The duties of a mounted officer

The Mounted Branch today has a horse strength of 120, a total of 150 officers, plus civilian support staff. A normal tour of duty consists of a patrol of three to four hours, although at times this may be extended depending upon the duty they are required to perform. Fitted around this is the care and maintenance of the horses and tack, which they perform assisted by civilian grooms based at the stables. Though based at a particular stable they might perform duty anywhere that their specialist service is required and for this purpose they may be transported by horse box to distant locations.

Mounted officers are generally required to perform two main functions, high visibility patrols and public order duties:

High visibility patrol - These are patrols in a designated area in order to show a visible police presence and deter criminals from committing crime. The type of crimes and offences may vary but in general are burglaries, street crime, theft of and from motor vehicles, rowdiness and vandalism. Mounted officers also patrol open spaces that would not usually see a police presence. Offences at these venues can consist of criminal damage and anti-social or indecent behaviour. The Mounted Branch is extremely successful at making these areas safer.

Public order duties - This duty is more defined and can range from a visible presence to intervention in resolving violent disorders at public order events. From a vantagepoint of 8ft high, the Mounted Officer is afforded a view that is invaluable at crowded venues. From this position, the officer can spot potentially violent confrontations or crush situations and alleviate the problem with crowd management tactics.
It is estimated that a trained Mounted Officer on a trained horse can be as effective as a dozen officers on foot in such situations.

Football and other sporting venues

These can vary from 4,000 to 80,000 people or more. Most crowds are good-natured and passive. However, at some events the mood of the supporters can swing very quickly from friendly banter to violent confrontations. In these last situations the Mounted Police can resolve the problems very quickly in a restrained and disciplined way.

Demonstrations

Public demonstrations, too, can range from good-natured to openly hostile. Even if the hostility is initially directed at the perceived objects of the demonstration, it can soon swing towards police if they are seen to try and prevent any unlawful intentions of the crowd. Extensive and deep public order training has prepared the officer and his mount for these eventualities. It is due to the outstanding actions of Mounted Officers and their horses in past years that such incidents as the clearing of the pitch at Wembley Stadium in 1923 by PC George Scorey and ‘Billie’ become part of the cultural and collective memory of this country.

Ceremonial events

This is the most high profile part of a Mounted Officer’s duties. From escorting royalty and ceremonial military movements to marshalling tourists wishing to see the daily changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, the Mounted Branch are an essential part of the life and security of central London.

On very important events, the Mounted Police provide officers to act as the Sovereign’s escort. From the annual Trooping of the Colour ceremony to royal weddings and funerals there will be the escort ‘topping’ and ‘tailing’ the procession. This duty is performed to the most exact timing, as the slightest deviation from the plans can be disastrous for a procession of several hundred marching soldiers accompanied by cavalry and coaches. Mounted Branch led the procession for Princess Diana’s, and the Queen Mother’s funerals.

The history of the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch is long, honourable and distinguished. Its public order tactics honed by years of experience are the envy of the world. It really is difficult to foresee a time when the use of the horse will not have an important role to play in modern policing and public order.