Met Police Ride-along Scheme

SENT OBO Chief Inspector Richmond

Dear resident,

We continue to offer members of the public the opportunity to gain insight into the work that local officers do on the front line. One way we do this is our ride along scheme whereby local residents are able to join the emergency response teams for a shift as an observer.

Should you be interested in taking part in the scheme, please visit  https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/st-s/stop-and-search/ras/raso/ride-along-scheme-application/ to apply.

Please see the below statement from the co-chair of the police encounter panel who recently took part.

“As part of my role on the Police Encounter Panel, I undertook a 10-hour observational ride-along with two officers from Response Team D, North East BCU. The purpose of this engagement was to gain direct insight into frontline policing within the borough.

From the first call-out, I witnessed impressive professionalism, teamwork and communication. The officers handled challenging situations with calmness, patience and respect. They moved rapidly between incidents, including a knife-related call at a local school. Constantly adapting their approach while showing genuine empathy to those involved.

The pace of the shift was relentless. Breaks were postponed, and all of the officers’ “downtime” was spent completing reports. Their ability to maintain focus, compassion and dedication under such pressure left a deep impression on me.

I am grateful to the officers for hosting me, explaining their work, and demonstrating such humanity throughout the shift. Thank you for the service you provide to our community every day.

I support and encourage other community members to experience the ride along scheme.” 

Live/work in Newham or Waltham Forest consider joining your local Police Encounter Panel, please contact:

📧 PolicingEncounters.NorthEast@met.police.uk