Scotland yardsticks Milestones for the Met

1749 The Bow Street Runners, London’s first professional police force, is formed.

1883 First women employed by the Met. Often the wives of officers, they were hired to look after women and children in custody.

1969 Met hires Fay Allen, the first non-white policewoman. Her family roots were Jamaican and she served for three years.

1990 Minimum height eligibility of 5ft 10in for male recruits and 5ft 4in for women is dropped by the Met Police.

2014 Rules on minor offences relaxed. Senior officers review new applicants with a criminal record for a “more balanced, nuanced view”.

2014 Met Police ban recruits who live outside London to boost the proportion of minority ethnic officers.