98elise said:
Post a picture of a picture of a Petty Officer with 12 years good conduct (3 stripes) and you are even closer. The police have always had military style uniforms, but military have different uniforms for different occasions. Their normal working dress is different to what the public see. In the public is form over function, and at work its function over form. All the police are doing is moving to something which is much more practical for every day use, which is sensible.
Same with firefighters, should they turn up to a fire in a smart tunic and shiny brass buttons (they do have one) or do they turn up in dirty well worn fire proof suit? Its not trumpton, its real life.
People who want their police to be armed with little more than stern words, and to be dressed in an uncomfortable uniform really need to get a grip on reality. Try doing a stint as a special perhaps.
I think you will find that the intention of the classic serge uniform was for the PC to use it as a suit when off duty. It was meant to be smart civilian clothing. The duty band - not now worn in most forces but I've got one from my days in the City of London police - was for the PC to remove it when off duty. It was, I was assured, recognised by the general public as such. There was an old saying in my force for when absence was the better part of valour: remove helmet and duty band and mingle [with the crowd].
The 'militerisation' of the police came about because most PCs were recruited from the forces. It was self fulfilling. Those in authority from the top were ex military and encouraged those below them to favour the same.
After WWI ex army were draughted in because of problems with police strikes.
Following WWII and conscription, the job of police officer was seen as attractive to those who enjoyed the military experience. When I joined in 1975 the job was moving away from the military aspects and towards a more civilian style. I still had to salute, stand up when an inspector or above came into the room, and stand to attention.
I was outside HQ one day when the commissioner of my force turned up. I opened the car door for him and, I thought, saluted rather smartly. However, as my right had was occupied by the door handle I'd used my left. Th commissioner pointed this out to me and said that I should not salute him as he wasn't wearing a hat so could not return it and, as I had no idea which arm to use, I should refrain from saluting him at any time.
For Chas and Di's wedding one inspector tried to get his shift to march towards their posts and most said they'd not marched since training school. It was, evidently, a shambles.
I was promoted to inspector in 1990 and was only saluted on the streets once. I returned it and told the officer never to do it again. And that was it.
As regards to rank, I'm not sure there is any rank of chief inspector in the army.
The sergeant's chevrons are similar to those in certain military ranks but the role of sergeant is entirely different to that of the army.
The police 'uniform' (there are a nubmer of different uniforms, so negating the literal meaning of the word, in all forces) has moved away dramatically from any military connection over the years. Cheapness now seems to be the main motivation rather than smartness. I hope it is more comfortable than the stuff I was forced to wear.
Thre has always been a dress uniform in the police. I was issued with 'Number ones', top hat, tails and high collar, but never got to wear it in anger. The current dress uniform is a mere shadow of its ancestors.
The police are not military in ethos. Each officer is responsible for his own actions and compliance with the law. He cannot be ordered to, for instance, shoot someone.
