The Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD) was one of the main branches of London's Metropolitan Police Service. It provided highly visible specialist policing services across the whole of London. Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley had previously led the directorate but it was later led by Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick. The Directorate led national police agency with regard to specialist crime investigations such as e-crime, sex crimes (paedophile unit) or kidnappings, hostage-taking and contract killings.
The Specialist Crime Directorate was merged with Central Operations to create Specialist Crime & Operations, which was itself later split, with Operations now in Met Operations and Specialist Crime part of Frontline Policing Headquarters within Frontline Policing.
It encompassed several departments:
Air Support Unit
Child Abuse Investigation Command
Computer Crime and Cybercrime
Covert Policing
Crime Academy
Dog support unit
Emergency Preparedness
Film Unit
Fingerprint Services
Forensic Services
Homicide and Serious Crime
Human Exploitation
Marine Policing
Met Intelligence Bureau
Mounted Branch
Overseas Visitors Registration
Rape & Serious Sexual Assault
Serious and Organised Crime
Specialist & Economic Crime
Territorial Support Group
Traffic Criminal Justice Unit
Traffic Operational Command
Trident Gang Crime Command
