Encountered the police in London (3)
I believe the answer is:
met
This might be a double definition.
'encountered' is the first definition.
('meet' can be a synonym of 'encounter')
'police in london' is the second definition.
'met' can be an answer for 'police' (London Metropolitan Police). I am unsure of the 'in london' bit.
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for met that I've seen before include "gathered together" , "Encountered by chance or arrangement" , "Came across - police in London" , "Opera company" , "London police (abbr) - New York Museum of Art (abbr)" .)