Could You Make It in the Metropolitan Police Service?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Could You Make It in the Metropolitan Police Service?
Image: whitemay / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The Metropolitan Police Service is the largest police force in the United Kingdom and serves the Greater London area. Populated by approximately 30,000 "bobbies on the beat" and a further 10,000 support staff, the Met is primarily based out of New Scotland Yard, as well as plenty of police stations scattered across London's many boroughs.

Policing a city that is coming up on 10 million residents is no mean feat. Sure, the criminals don't carry guns, meaning the cops don't need them, but there's more to joining the Old Bill than just waving a gun around and "nicking" robbers. You have to memorize a potentially large geographical area within your borough (that's a precinct if you're American). You need to be fit enough to run down a criminal element who are mostly healthy and in their late teens and early 20s. You have to know the law inside out and be ready to apply it with just the right blend of discretion and precision. Most of all, you need to know how to build a relationship with the community you're policing, and how to create a trust which means people see you as the good guy.

Do you have what it takes? Let's find out!

1 Metropolitan Police
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You are in the break room when a BBC newsreader says police have been put on high alert. This is news to you. What do you do?
Yell at a subordinate to fix it!
Check in with the sergeant.
Put on the kettle. I'll need a cuppa for this.
Prepare two press releases: one in case it's correct, one in case it's a mistake.

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2 Metropolitan Police
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Could you speak in front of a crowd?
Yes! I love it!
No thanks
Only a small one
Only a professional one

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3 parliament
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A threat is called in against the State Opening of Parliament. What do you want to do next?
Make a plan!
Stop the threateners!
Probably stand outside for hours watching crowds
Write a press release

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4 Metropolitan Police
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In what uniform do you feel like you are most truly yourself?
Suit
Pinstripe suit
Head to toe blue!
Slacks and blouse

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5 reading
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What's the longest document you care to read in a typical day?
White paper
Dossier
Post-It
Lengthy report with plenty of appendices

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6 Metropolitan Police
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Can you stay on your feet for hours at a time?
Not comfortably
Yes, though I might need an ibuprofen afterward.
Sure!
No thanks

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7 Metropolitan Police
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Good policework requires good community relations. How do you maintain them?
I meet stakeholders and talk to them.
I infiltrate organizations to get to know them.
I talk to people in the street all the time.
I conduct surveys and listen to feedback.

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8 laws
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Be honest: How many laws do you really remember?
All of them
Most of those relevant to one or two areas of law
Most of the ones that govern street life
Maybe half

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9 robber
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A robber grabs a purse and promptly starts leaping garden fences as he gets away. What are the odds you'll catch him?
Pretty low these days!
Pretty good
Very good
50/50

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10 Metropolitan Police
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When American tourists express surprise that you don't have a gun, how will you react?
I laugh.
I'm actually in the armed response unit.
I point out that there is no reason for me to have one, given that the criminals don't!
I ignore them.

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11 oath
Chris Ryan / OJO Images / Getty Images
Could you honestly swear the oath of loyalty required of all British police?
Yes! I wish it was a bit more about God and country but I like it.
Yes, it is very meaningful to me.
Sure, why not?
I don't really like oaths.

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12 paperwork
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A six-inch stack of paperwork lands on your desk. How much of it do you get through?
Half
A quarter
Very little
All

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13 handwriting
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What word best describes your handwriting?
Decent
Poor
Speedy and legible
Immaculate

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14 Metropolitan Police
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When heading out on the beat, what item would you always take with you?
Assistant
Truncheon
Pepper spray
Phone

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15 london map
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To which London borough would you most hope to be assigned?
Camden
Westminster
Croydon
Hammersmith

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16 Metropolitan Police
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How would you describe your family's view of the police when you were growing up?
Worshipful
Grateful
Admiring
Indifferent

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17 knighthood
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If you were to earn a knighthood, what do you hope it would be for?
Being a leader
Preventing the Big One
Saving a life
Always staying late and working hard

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18 Metropolitan Police
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Of the weapons with which you were born, which comes most naturally?
Charisma
Courage
Physical strength
Intelligence

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19 Metropolitan Police
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Be honest: Are you really in this because you want to drive fast with the blue lights on?
I used to think that!
Once in a while, it wouldn't hurt.
I mean, I won't say that ISN'T a factor ...
No, I hate going fast.

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20 Metropolitan Police
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Why is it important to have a police service, in your view?
To protect and serve the people
To prevent attacks
To keep the streets safe
I literally never thought about this before, and I'm not starting now!

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21 Metropolitan Police
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What is the leading quality that makes a good cop?
Stragetic thinking
Dedication to public safety
Mental and physical toughnses
Cleverness

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22 Metropolitan Police
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Which of the many nicknames of the British police suits you the best?
The Thin Blue Line
The Fuzz
Bobbies on the Beat
The Nick

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23 tv
Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman/ Moment / Getty Images
There are many good TV shows about the Met. Which one do you find most accurate?
"The Fall"
"Silent Witness"
"The Bill"
"Luther"

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24 hot fuzz
StudioCanal/Working Title Films/Big Talk Productions
Which police movie do you hope will literally be your life once you join up?
"The Italian Job"
"Hot Fuzz"
"The Sweeney"
"Get Carter"

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25 awards
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What policing award do you hope you'll win?
POP (Problem Orientated Partnership) prize for work with community, agencies, business and police.
Safer Neighbourhoods Team of the Year Excellence Award
Police Officer of the Year Excellence Award
Building a Better Met Excellence Award

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26 Metropolitan Police
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How many years of service do you anticipate putting in?
25 or more
Up to 10
Up to 20
Maybe five

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27 Metropolitan Police
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Do you have any police in your family?
Yes, everyone is a copper in my house!
My cousin is a cop.
My father is a cop.
No

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28 Metropolitan Police
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Which kind of crime do you think you would be uniquely qualified to handle?
Hate crime
Terrorism
Street crime
Domestic abuse

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29 Metropolitan Police
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With what sort of partner would you like to spend your days?
Fellow leaders
Dog
Fellow bobby
Just me and my computer, please!

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30 Metropolitan Police
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What do you think you bring to the police that is particularly needed?
Wisdom
Fortitude
Can-do attitude
Logistical talent

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You Got: