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Random British slang question
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Author:  Willie Goldman [ Fri Mar 20, 2015 6:16 am ]
Post subject:  Random British slang question
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!
Author:  nocternus [ Fri Mar 20, 2015 6:25 am ]
Post subject: 
Police
Author:  CheifProfanity [ Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:30 am ]
Post subject: 
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
Author:  punkmarine [ Fri Mar 20, 2015 12:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
More offensive street slang is Pig, Pigs.
Author:  Ttaskmaster [ Fri Mar 20, 2015 1:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
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...
Author:  88reaper88 [ Fri Mar 20, 2015 2:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
If your character is Scouse (or a Wirral-ite, REPRESENTIN yo) then he or she is likely to call them Busy's or Bizzies.
Author:  Willie Goldman [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:19 am ]
Post subject: 
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!
Author:  BugStomper101 [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:28 am ]
Post subject: 
Don't forget "rozzers " and "filth"!
Author:  PVB [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re:
Willie Goldman wrote:
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!

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!"
Author:  88reaper88 [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 2:04 am ]
Post subject: 
It also depends on what degree of cockney they are, they speak in riddles. ;)
Author:  Willie Goldman [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 8:18 am ]
Post subject: 
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?
Author:  nocternus [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 9:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re:
88reaper88 wrote:
It also depends on what degree of cockney they are, they speak in riddles. ;)



Your having a Bubble aint ya
Author:  Ttaskmaster [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 10:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re:
Willie Goldman wrote:
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?

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.
Author:  demoncase [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 2:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
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 ;)
Author:  Willie Goldman [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 7:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
lol, cool, cool - you guys are awesome - thanks for all this…!
Author:  88reaper88 [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 9:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re:
demoncase wrote:
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 ;)


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.
Author:  Ttaskmaster [ Sun Mar 22, 2015 1:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Re:
88reaper88 wrote:
being the son in law of a DC I've met both sides and the traffic cops are total dicks.

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!
Author:  retrogarde [ Tue Mar 24, 2015 2:21 am ]
Post subject: 
This is fascinating stuff!
Author:  gunny63 [ Tue Mar 24, 2015 3:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Random British slang question
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??
Author:  demoncase [ Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Random British slang question
gunny63 wrote:

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.


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! :mrgreen:
Author:  Hybrid [ Mon May 04, 2015 2:41 am ]
Post subject: 
Sadly the Americanisation of our culture means a lot of wannabe gangsters use five-oh
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