Why do some policemen in London wear long hats and some wear short hats?

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Phish

Firstly, you have to see the difference between the ordinary Metropolitan Police, and City Of London police. While City is part of the Met, it is more oriented toward the traditional British bobby approach in the central city areas, and much of their work is foot -patrol where the tall-hat is the order of uniform.

Met Police are much more likely to wear caps as many of them are vehicle based, and you don't fit in a patrol car too well while wearing a tall-hat.

The tall-hat still has a 'ceremonial and visual' aspect to it, despite its use having been reduced over the years. It's 'traditional' wear, and more likely to be seen in areas where tourists accumulate.

Funk Master Slam

Different police departments have slight variations in uniform

jessiekatsopolous

Why not ask one of them? I am sure they would be glad to tell you.

Abelard

Tall hats - when walking the beat, and usually the City Police.
Flat hats - when carrying guns and driving vehicles.

There are also two other types which are being used - for horse riding and for cycling (not mentioning the ones for motor-cycling).

The origin of the tall hat - they seem to be deriving from helmets of the Roman soldiers. Indeed, you see them less and less these days, as CCTV cameras and community support officers (who wear only flat hats) seem to replace a regular bobby walking the beat.

john b

I am so sorry that you have been given so much rubbish in answer to your question. I suspect that you have spotted the difference in the beat patrol helmets worn by the "City of London Police" and the "Metropolitan Police".

The "City of London Police" are responsible for about a square mile of London; the City of London - probably the most important financial centre in the world. Only about seven thousand people live in this district. The Police Officers there wear a patrol helmet that includes a "comb" (like a roosters comb) on the top and back.. This is supposed to refer to a "Roman" past and you can seen in other police forces in England wearing a similar comb; for example, Manchester. The MET do not. If you watch closely the TV when there are stories from the UK about the "City of London" police you will see that those wearing the ordinary peaked cap have a red and white chequered band around it not the normal blue and white chequered band worn by other police in the UK.

abc

This is the actual answer:

They wear the tall hats if they are 'walking the beat'. In other words, if they are just walking around town.

They wear the flat hats if they are driving, carrying a gun, riding a bike, or any other situation that would make a tall hat inconvenient.

wickedmind

Sceptic tank is spot on! I'm a cop. I wear a flat cap as they are known. Rarely a 'beat lid'.

borscht

I have actually asked a policeman. The long hats are like a hard hat. They are for protection from potential blows to the head if they are involved in a scuffle. The short hats are worn when driving (the long hats don't fit) or other places where the risk of getting hit on the head is basically nil.

superkitty002

some have long heads and some have short heads, its pretty obvious really. although in some cases a long hat is worn as a king of cop gaydar, you look at them they are more stylish, camper and love thier mothers more than other cops.

no i am not a homophobe, i like the gays for the most part, that is unless they are a ba5tard but thats the same with everybody

ttopcat2005

it depends on the shape of their head

sweendog67

Short hat, Small Penis------Tall Hat, big Penis... Ya know, just like american feet..

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