A minor rant

A policeman referred to a records department colleague as a civilian. In a way he was right. However, the assumption that he and other police officers are not civilians is wrong. At least here in the UK, the police are also civilians: They are not part of the military. If you are a police officer you are a civilian unless your title has the word Military proceeding it.

The example I have chosen is fictional. It comes from the first episode of the Drama Patience, which was shown in January on Channel 4. The idea that the police are not civilians is widely held in the police force. They are separate in that they are crown servants. Crown servants include the military, but also Government ministers, civil servants and police officers, amongst others. If you want to argue that police officers are not civilians, try arguing that civil servants are not civilians too and see how far you get.

So what are the police? They are a civilian service that performs policing functions. They are also a disciplined service, meaning they are obliged to obey orders or they will get a “failing to obey a lawful order” action. A police officer has powers which include powers of arrest above those of a citizen’s arrest.

The police are not military. If they were military, or even armed in a way to appear military it would create issues of trust with the public. Trust between the police and the communities they serve is vital for keeping society safe. Heavy-handed tactics should not be a part of policing except as a last resort.