Met Police Unit Incident Room Detectives

Before policing became a world of forms, screens, and someone being “deeply offended” on behalf of a stranger, there were the Incident Room detectives.

The real deal.

These were the men and women who got called in when it all went serious. Murders. Bombings. Armed robberies. The sort of investigations that turned a quiet day into a sleepless week and made the canteen tea taste like victory.

An incident room was never tidy. It was a glorious mess of notebooks, report books, phone calls, scribbled reminders, and the constant sound of someone shouting, “Who’s got the address for the witness on the second floor?” while another detective was already halfway out the door with a coat, a torch, and a half eaten sandwich.

This artwork captures that world perfectly. The warrant card, the battered CID report book, the old Nokia that never stopped ringing, and the classic “Back in 5 minutes” note that usually meant three hours and a fast pint. Even the truncheon and the glass of something medicinal are there, because when the job got heavy, the kit got heavier.

These detectives were not keyboard warriors. They were foot sloggers. Door knockers. Statement takers. They worked the streets, worked the phones, and worked their instincts, every single day, until the truth finally cracked.

Painted with humour and affection by retired Senior Police Artist Jan Szymczuk, also known as Boris, this piece is a tribute to proper detective work, the kind that was done with tired feet, sharp minds, and a notebook full of names.

Available framed in two sizes, with a choice of black or white mount.