Metropolitan Police to exclusively recruit Londoners

The Metropolitan (Met) Police will recruit new constables exclusively from London as the force attempts to reflect the capital's cultural diversity.

From August the Met will only recruit constables who have lived in Greater London for three of the last six years.

The initiative is supported by London Mayor Boris Johnson and Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.

The policy has been designed to make the Met "more culturally representative of the people it serves".

Sir Bernard said London was a unique city, with "a dynamic and intensity not seen in other parts of the UK".

"With London's population increasing and becoming even more diverse it is essential that our workforce is able to maintain the trust and confidence of London's communities," he added.

'Diverse pool'

Stephen Greenhalgh, deputy mayor for policing and crime, said the Met needed a force made up of "many more Londoners" but that the new approach was "all about competence rather than colour".

The move follows plans announced in March to fast-track external recruits into senior policing roles to improve diversity in the force.

Mr Johnson said: "Recent recruitment rounds have attracted a more diverse pool of applicants, but by focusing exclusively on Londoners from now on, we can achieve our goals more quickly."

The policy change is a first for the Met in the modern era, although it will not affect serving officers or those seeking to transfer from other UK forces.

People living outside Greater London will still be able to apply to be a special constable.