Area Major Incident Pool

Also known as Area Major Investigation Pool, and abbreviated to AMIP.

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The Area Major Incident Pool is an obsolete branch of the Metropolitan Police Service Criminal Investigation Department (CID). From 1985-2000, the Area Major Incident Pool comprised teams of experienced and trained detectives who were available to assist divisional (station-based) CID detectives to investigate major crimes (in particular, murder), or crimes which crossed the boundaries of London's police divisions.

Related Topics:
Metropolitan Police Service - Criminal Investigation Department - Murder - London - Police division

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In 1985, under the Newman Restructuring of London's Metropolitan Police Service, the 67 police divisions of the Metropolitan Police District were divided among eight numbered geographical areas. Based at each Area headquarters were several specialist police units, including an AMIP and a drugs squad, intended to decentralize some of the specialist units based at New Scotland Yard.

Related Topics:
Newman Restructuring - London - Metropolitan Police Service - Police division - Metropolitan Police District - New Scotland Yard

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In 1992, the number of Areas was reduced to five (Central, North West, North East, South East and South West), and in 1999 this was further reduced to three (Central, North and South). The AMIPs were reorganised and reallocated accordingly.

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In 2000, as part of sweeping reforms to the Met following the Macpherson Report into the death of Stephen Lawrence, Area policing was scrapped in favour of Borough policing, and AMIPs became part of borough-based Murder Investigation Teams under the auspices of the Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Group. Prior to 2000, AMIP officers would have assisted divisional CID to investigate homicide by providing a Detective Chief Inspector to lead the investigation or additional manpower, but one of the recommendations of the Macpherson Report was that murder cases were best dealt with solely by specialist teams.

Related Topics:
Stephen Lawrence - Murder Investigation Team - Homicide - Detective Chief Inspector

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The functions and duties of AMIP are currently performed by Major Investigation Teams of the Specialist Crime Directorate.

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