Coppers today. Right scruffy bunch or what?

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

Paulus

Started young, and still going.
Location
Barnet,
And whilst I'm at it what's wrong with having a whistle that fits nicely into a pocket rather than all of this modern communications gubbins that they all seem to have strapped around and hanging off all over the place. I don't know whether to talk to a police officer or attempt to log on. Where will this craziness end???

A whistle may of been a good way of communication back in the good old days when there where plenty of coppers on the beat who could hear the whistle, but these days the nearest copper may be several miles away and in a car. A silver whistle would still look nice on the formal uniform though.
 

Pat "5mph"

A kilogrammicaly challenged woman
Moderator
Location
Glasgow
And? Barring a significant lottery win I'll still have to drive my wagon/do whatever it is that's paying my bills at that time until I'm at least 65, (and probably beyond TBH), so they'll get no sympathy from me I'm afraid.
Agree! (Sorry @Brandane :smile:)
There will be no retirement for most of us.

Edited to add: I am still expected to do heavy lifting and long hours on my feet, at 50 plus.
No doubt a roofer or a builder are in the same boat, so let the policemen work a wee bit longer too.
 

Sara_H

Guru
I've now moved into non clinical job, but spent 15 years working in ICU so I can really see that its its unrealistic to expect some people in certain roles continue into their late sixties.
A colleague of mine recently retired aged sixty. She was a physical wreck, we really worried about her and in all honestly, everyone else on shift had to carry her as she just wasn't up to the physical or mental demands of the job.
She's been retired for two years now and is gradually recovering her health and able to enjoy her retirement.
 
Last edited:

stephec

Squire
Location
Bolton
It is: hoping to train as a bike mechanic for my retirement job :thumbsup:
The words retirement and job don't go well together. :smile:
 

GetAGrip

Still trying to look cool and not the fool HA
Location
N Devon
I prefer the look of the modern bobby on the street. I want to see a copper at least look like they could be effective in saving me from that "mad axe man".
Regarding ear studs, beards and the like, surely it's all about getting the balance right. I think the force has to be representative of today's society and the people they serve. An ear stud does not in my mind carry the same personal risk that a nose ring or tongue piercing for instance.
A smart dress uniform for formal (none front line) duties would be great, but very very expensive. What do we want from our bobbies?
Not sure I would feel so safe, in today's fast moving, high tech world, if this guy and his whistle was still strutting my local streets.
tom-smith-peeler_4973.jpg

Notice optimistically, I use the word 'street' on more than one occasion.
 
Apologies to the officers on here who might read this. I know you have to wear what you're given so it's not a personal comment.
Does the permanent wearing of high vis really make them any safer? Couldn't they just have one that they could whip out if they had to do some work on a busy road. And the combat style trousers? What's all that about?
Whatever happened to those lovely tunics they used to wear?
I was chatting with a copper the other day and close up thought the whole look was a bit thrown together. Trousers were worn and a bit faded and generally a bit scruffy looking. What's going on?

The permanent wearing of hi vis... God how I hate it. I hate it so much. It's because "it makes us more approachable" and also "the public notice you and feel safe". There are other reasons that can be genuine (safety at Road traffic scenes etc) but for all of the genuine reasons you could just have a hi-vis coat to put on and off.

The combat style trousers aren't too bad. I find them an improvement over the old, more 'dress style' trousers that produced a ripped knee every single time you knelt down to handcuff a struggling suspect!

I once won an award and as a result got to attend a function and meet the Prime Minister. They still wouldn't issue me a tunic, I had to borrow one.

The uniform is only going to get worse. My force in particular has an utter obsession with hi-vis. I predict in five years you'll be able to see officers wearing hi-vis T-Shirts, Stab vests and baseball caps.
 
Top Bottom