I'm doing research for a script and am wondering what are the different terms one would call a policeman? And a group of policemen?

Bobbies? Coppers?

Thanks all!

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Police

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SSgt Kris "Bloodsucker" Kobus, VAS.
A09/TQ2.0.12136E1

The only slang terms you hear are all used in a comical way to be honest like The Fuzz, Coppers, Po-po, The thin blue line.

Hope that helps

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Chaplain Sgt Hohenkerk,
Executive officer - 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes

Does not help,
Does not clean,
Will have sex with anything!

More offensive street slang is Pig, Pigs.

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Martin 'Victim' Victory
A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

Cor, there's loads!

A very popular one you hear often is The Bill, or The Old Bill.

Plod, PC Plod or The Plod can mean one cop or a bunch of them, often used in the same way that Charlie personified the Viet Cong.
"I was walking along and dropped some litter, but Plod saw me and fingered my collar"

Others include: The Rozzers, The Pigs, The Filth, The Fuzz, bobbies, boys in blue, cops, coppers, Nick-Nick, bizzies, Black Rats (usually traffic cops), Cocos (rhyming slang; Coco Pops, Cops), Die Politzei and The Law (as in The Long Arm Of).

You sometimes hear The Sweeney, Special Branch or CID.
These last terms do refer to particular types of Police units and everyone knows it, but are still sometimes used erroneously on purpose.

Forgive the term, but individual cops may be referred to as Cuntstubble, a play on the rank of Constable.

Recently, you also have the Special Constables (part-time volunteers) and the Police Community Support Officers or PCSOs, who are both known by the terms Hobby Bobbies, Care Bears, CHIMPS (Completely Hopeless In Most Policing Situations) and plastic policemen.


There's other regional variants too...

If your character is Scouse (or a Wirral-ite, REPRESENTIN yo) then he or she is likely to call them Busy's or Bizzies.

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AKA: Simon

lol, okay, okay, well there's certainly plenty to pick from here… Putting regions aside for a moment, in London are they just called "police?" Thanks guys!

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Don't forget "rozzers " and "filth"!

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Cpl Dan Callaghan

"On an express elevator to hell...going down!"

Just call me Admiral....

That's the polite version, as in "There's been an accident! Call the police!"

London criminals are more likely to say "Watch out! The filth's after us!"

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

It also depends on what degree of cockney they are, they speak in riddles.

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AKA: Simon

What's the most common, or, what would another cop refer to them as? Is "bobbie" (spelling) even still in use? And your average street cop - do they carry weapons?

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Your having a Bubble aint ya

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SSgt Kris "Bloodsucker" Kobus, VAS.
A09/TQ2.0.12136E1

They refer to themselves as Police officers, cops, coppers or bobbies, depending on whether they're speaking formally or informally. Most units will have terms for other units, uniformed, traffic, riot, Special Branch, CID, SO19, undercover and so on.
The average on the street cop will have a extendable baton (like an Asp), perhaps some CS or PAVA spray. A few have Tasers, but they're not that commonly issued.

No guns. Ever.
Guns are found on Transport Police (separate jurisdiction entirely from normal Police), Firearms Officers, Airport Police, SO19 and only a few other specialist units.

The public will generally call them The Bill, or The Old Bill, Plod, cops, coppers or bobbies, unless they want to be derogatory, in which case pick one of those that sounds impolite.

There's also 'Tit-heads'- a delightful reference to the standard issue copper's helmet which resembles a large black tit with a metal 'nipple' shaped badge on the top.

"Does yer 'ead go all the way to the top o' that 'elmet, Tit-head......Ow!...Alright, I'll come quietly"

As to weapons- The average copper carries a bottomless tank of weaponsgrade sarcasm that can be deployed instantaneously-
"Got a fire your going to, sunshine?" When greeting a speeder
"Got our pilot's license, have we?" as above
And so forth

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2nd Lt Jon "Jaylo" Lopez
A11/TQ1.0.72144E1
USCM Quality Assurance Division- Aerospace and Space Products- Earth
"Checklists Save Lives- No Service Stations at 30,000ft"

lol, cool, cool - you guys are awesome - thanks for all this…!

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I have to butt-in here and say traffic police and regular police are worlds apart attitude wise, being the son in law of a DC I've met both sides and the traffic cops are total dicks.

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AKA: Simon

I would have to say that Bike Cops (aka Black Rats) are usually very decent guys... probably because they get to ride all day, rather than sitting in traffic!

This is fascinating stuff!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

In my job I have had a lot of dealings with the old bill over the years and I have found most to be ok, there are good ones and bad ones, same as any job! but back to the thread in hand!

I was avin a ball down the frog and a peeler felt me collar, "keep ya Alan's on! whats the game?" I asked! apparently a couple of saucepans had caught a butchers of me on the apples up to no good! they knew it woz me cos me barnet is distinctive, I told im he was a bit of a peanut and he let me go! anyway, I've just popped me jimmies off an me plates pen so i'm off for a tom an a blackpool.


does that help with the slang question??

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Pt. Graham "gunny" Green
A07/TQ2.0.12129E1
UKCM 501st Regt. 1st Batt. The Bucketheads

Gor blimey guvnah- Let's 'ere if for the Queen!...Look at dis- Ronnie Kray cat me frum ear to ear then give me sixpence for me mavvah!

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2nd Lt Jon "Jaylo" Lopez
A11/TQ1.0.72144E1
USCM Quality Assurance Division- Aerospace and Space Products- Earth
"Checklists Save Lives- No Service Stations at 30,000ft"

Sadly the Americanisation of our culture means a lot of wannabe gangsters use five-oh

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Cpl. JK "Hybrid" Knight. A07/TQ0.0.52137E1
XO HMS Valhalla; 13th Regt. 1st Batt. "Freebooters" - USCM Flight School "Bus drivers".
"I'm not saying it was Aliens but...."