Thin Blue Line badges
Date of request: 6 November 2023
Reference: 1293-23
Request
In July 2023 officers in the Metropolitan Police were banned by their Commissioner from wearing Thin Blue Line badges on their uniform. These badges are to show respect and remember their fallen colleagues. They are sold by the Care Of Police Survivors (COPS) charity and help to raise funds for their great cause. The decision by the Met Police Commissioner has caused great upset to his officers at a time when their morale is already very low.
Please can you advise what is your force policy in relation to your officers wearing Thin Blue Line badges?
Response
Avon and Somerset Ethics Committee and Uniform and Protective Equipment Committee (UPEC) have confirmed the Thin Blue Line badges can be worn. In line with the below section from our current uniform policy, only one such badge is permitted (The section refers to ‘bands’ but the Committees mentioned above agreed that this also applies to the badge in question).
6.9.3 One single charity band may be worn by uniformed police officers and uniformed police staff whilst on duty.