Met Police Unit A Policeman’s Lot

This artwork is titled A Policeman’s Lot, and it captures the unmistakable tools of the trade that every Met officer needed before stepping out onto the streets of London.

Before body worn video, before smartphones, before anyone could “just Google it”, a police officer relied on a small collection of hard earned essentials. Not glamorous, not modern, but absolutely dependable.

Here you have the old faithful handcuffs, ready for the inevitable “I haven’t done nuffin” moment. The truncheon, because sometimes a stern look was not quite enough. The whistle, which was basically the original emergency alarm system, and could summon help, attention, or at the very least a few curious pigeons.

There is also the warrant card, the notebook, the keys, the radio, and the general weight of responsibility that came with walking the beat. All carried with that uniquely British mixture of pride, sarcasm, and the knowledge that your tea would go cold before you ever got a chance to drink it.

Painted by retired Senior Police Artist Jan Szymczuk, also known as Boris, this piece is both a nostalgic tribute and a cheeky nod to the reality of policing. A reminder that the job was never just about uniforms and authority, but about the everyday grind, the humour, and the kit that kept you going.