Met Police Unit Licensed Search Officer (LSO)

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a police officer becomes so good at searching that it turns into a lifestyle… meet the Met Police Unit Licensed Search Officer (LSO).

This artwork captures the unmistakable “tools of the trade” of a proper licensed search officer — the Met Police cap, the high-output torch, the search patches, and the ever-present paperwork that quietly reminds you:

you can search anything… but you’ll be writing about it for the next three days.

The inclusion of the official Search Log Books and the magnifier is a nod to the reality of the job — where no pocket, vehicle, bag, shed, bin, loft, or suspicious “that’s not mine guv” container is safe from a trained eye.

Whether you served, know someone who did, or just appreciate the unique culture of specialist policing, this piece is both a tribute and a knowing wink to those who lived it.

Perfect for:

• Retired or serving officers

• Met Police memorabilia collectors

• Search team veterans who still flinch at the words “intermediate search”

• Anyone who understands that “just a quick search” is never quick

A bold, humorous and detailed artwork celebrating one of policing’s most under-appreciated superpowers:

finding what others miss… and then documenting it to the last comma.

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.