Police wearing Union flag badge in support of our troops.

[Gromit]

Scotland Yard have a strict dress code that states that officers can only wear 'the approved corporate badging and only on clothing authorised by the Clothing Board'.

However, a few Police officers, many of whom are ex-military, and taken to wearing a Union flag badge in support of 'our troops'.

They have been asked to remove the badge, but many have refused.

Should a special exception be made in this case, or does that open the doors for every PC to start wearing Pudsey Bear badges, AIDS awareness badges or whatever cause they support?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5928688 /Police-anger-over-ban-on-Union-Flag-badges-in -support-of-British-troops.html

[jno]

As police have to swear allegiance to the queen, I can't see why on earth they shouldn't wear the flag of her country. It's not a single issue, unlike Pudsey bear or Ukip. As to their own private reason for wearing a badge, they can do it in support of the slow food movement for all I care, as long as they don't have badges or other displays specific to that movement.

But if Scotland Yard wants to ban all badges, even the flag, I don't really mind.

[anotheoldgit]

on the grounds that they were in breach of the Met's strict dress code.

I don't suppose for a minute, that the wearing of head scarves or turbans are also a breach of the Met's strict dress code?

The wearing of our national flag on one's lapel is a very good idea, after all the Americans including their President wear their flag with pride.

[TCL-MUMPING]

aog would you rather the police were made up only of Christians or is it that non-Christians are fine as long as it is not obvious that they are not?

[jake-the-peg]

In many countries this wouldn't be an issue. Unfortunately here the far right have been rather sucessful in hijacking the national flag in a political manner.

Consequently a British Policeman wearing a Union Jack badge may have different implications to some people than an American Policeman wearing a stars and stripes badge.

It's therefore unlikely to be helpful - especially in Northern Ireland!

[R1Geezer]

They should not make an exception but they should make it part of the uniform so that all officers have to wear the flag.

[anotheoldgit]

TCL-MUMPING

would you rather the police were made up only of Christians

What a rather silly statement to make, of course not but a uniform is exactly what it means, Uniform, e.g. being the same

If an Orthodox Jew was to join the Police, would he also expect to wear his shtreimel (fur hat) upon his head?

If a person is not prepared to wear the uniform of the service he or she chooses to join, then tough try another career.

[jno]

aren't you putting the cart before the horse, aog? The point of being in the police is not the chance to wear a nice uniform, it's to perform a public service that needs doing. If good people are unable to join up because of the uniform requirements, then maybe it's the uniform that needs changing? Or are the clothes more important than the job?

[TCL-MUMPING]

"What a rather silly statement to make, of course not but a uniform is exactly what it means, Uniform, e.g. being the same"

In what way or ways does the fact that a man is wearing a turban as-required by his religion-diminish his ability or performance?

[anotheoldgit]

jake-the-peg

Consequently a British Policeman wearing a Union Jack badge may have different implications to some people

Even a policeman without the badge, may have different implications to some.

We take far too much notice of those who choose to be offended by the very least thing.

We should in this case, pin on the badge and stick out our chests with pride.

After all we are one of the greatest nations in the world.

[Gromit]

AOG

You seem to be arguing against these Police officers wearing a badge. If they did wear it, they wouldn't be Uniform, e.g. being the same.

Or are you agreeing you can make some exception and be un-uniform?

[anotheoldgit]

jno

The point of being in the police is not the chance to wear a nice uniform, it's to perform a public service that needs doing.

Then why bother with a uniform at all, but how would one tell the difference between say a policeman , a fire-fighter, a soldier, sailor, airman?

If good people are unable to join up because of the uniform requirements, then maybe it's the uniform that needs changing?

What would you suggest jno?

Now don't forget before you answer, your final choice of change of uniform, must be acceptable to each and everyone who wishes to join the police service.

This should be rather interesting, can't wait for your answer.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

You seem to be arguing against these Police officers wearing a badge. If they did wear it, they wouldn't be Uniform, e.g. being the same.

Can quite understand why you assume I am arguing against these Police officers wearing a union flag badge?

On the contrary I am fully behind the idea, in fact I think that it should be a compulsory part of the uniform.

But if you are trying to trap me by saying if only some officers wore the badge then they would not be uniform.

This is a rather silly analogy to make, there is a vast difference between a small lapel badge to a different uniform head dress.

Just as if you said, because some Police officers have stripes of rank, or medal ribbons etc.on their uniform, they are not uniform.

[youngmafbog]

The fact that a bunch of liberal pinkos see the flag as imperialsim and ban it so giving to to the far right is no reason for the rest of us not to snatch it back..

It should be part of any uniform worn by any offical in this country. The far right would soon loose 'their' flag then.

[Gromit]

AOG

You seem a bit confused on this uniform thing.

You say uniforms must be the same, but then you point out that different rank will have different uniform. Then there is the obvious fact that WPC dress differently a too.

If exceptions can been made for wearing a union flag badge, why cannot an exception be made for accommodating religious dress codes.

As the long as the public are not confused by a police officer wearing a turban, why is that exception not acceptable to you, but others are?

[sp1814]

youngmafbog

It's a pity that far rigth parties co-opted the Union Flag in a way that hasn't been done in any other country that I can think of.

Can you imagine what would happen in the States if far rigth religious groups tried to do the same with the Stars and Stripes? It could never happen.

Too many people did nothing when the NF and now latterly the BNP soiled our national flag.

These are chickens coming home to roost I'm afraid. It will take a generation to clean up the flag again.

[jno]

aog, it was you who started on about headscarves and turbans (not for the first time), when the original question simply asked about badges. No, I don't much care what police wear - indeed, I believe some do go about in plain clothes. On the other hand, I don't care if Scotland Yard ban all badges - but I said that already.

But if they make their uniform requirements so strict that nobody wants to join, I expect to hear complaints from some quarters that there aren't enough police around. It might even provoke further protests that Britain is going to hell because crime figures are rising. Then the complainants will have to decide if they want an effective police force, or just a small, well-dressed one.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-120288 2/Banned-police-Union-Flag-badge-backs-troops. html

At last common sense prevails, the badge ban is over.

[TCL-MUMPING]

aog In what way or ways does the fact that a man is wearing a turban as-required by his religion-diminish his ability or performance?

[Sweep2k]

Oh for goodness sake, let them wear badges if they really want to wear them*. One less thing for them to whine about.


* And football scarves while they're at it.