Do people in the police force speak to each other as formally as they appear to in TV shows?

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XCinnamonbun@reddit

For the most part yes. For example, sergeants are ‘sarge’ and anyone above that is ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’. Occasionally you’ll get ‘boss’ for inspectors. Between normal officers (regulars) it’s first name or some loving insult depending on who it is and how familiar you are. When you’re on the radio it’s professional because it needs to be brief clear and to the point. Very rarely though you get something so odd or strange through even control can’t help having a bit of a chuckle over the radio. Or someone completely fumbles a comms in a funny way and they’ll get a bit of a quip back from control depending on how quick witted the operator is. I like those moments, it’s a reminder that everyone is human on the other end of the radio.

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Icy_Attention3413@reddit

Before mobiles, I was sent to another area for a sudden death in the middle of nowhere on a dark, cold and foggy evening by the force control room. They had to get a patrol on scene to give me extensive directions, including:

“There’s a tree in the middle of the track, turn left and go another half mile. It’s the White House on the right.”

“Wut? A tree in -“

“Literally in the road. It is literally in the middle of the road. Be very careful.”

Off I went, bouncing through the evil darkness on tortured lanes and muddy tracks. As I approached the relevant oak 30 minutes later, the otherwise silent radio came to life after a few pips. No call sign, no clue as to who was on the line (must have been the control room), he spoke slowly and calmly, with a hint of malice: “mind. that. tree.”

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Icy_Attention3413@reddit

I once was invited by an older DC to his police force annual CID bash. Heaven forbid I name the force, because I am sworn to secrecy. He had known the chief constable for about 29.9 years. The music was on, the booze was flowing and the chief was doing the rounds. “Hello Ernie!” shouted the affable chief, grabbing the DC’s hand. “Alright, you old twat!” shouts my mate. I was mortified. The chief didn’t bat an eyelid. ‘Twas a night to remember.

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TomatoMiserable3043@reddit

Sometimes, not always. At PC level, at least in my force:

It's often first names with sergeants if they're yours or you know them well, unless you're in earshot of the public. I call both of mine by name.
It's almost always 'Sergeant' to a custody sergeant if you have a prisoner with you. Even if you don't, grumpiness is part of the job description.
Inspectors and chief inspectors are referred to by title unless you know them, in which case It's 'boss' (or 'guv', in some forces). I don't think I've ever called anyone of either rank by name.
Everyone above these ranks is, with rare exceptions, 'sir' or 'ma'am'.

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blamordeganis@reddit

I’m sure I remember a series (possibly Life on Mars) where a team were lead by a DCI with a DI as his #2, and one was called “guv” and the other “boss” (I think the DCI was “guv”). How realistic/nonsensical would that be?

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g1hsg@reddit

The Sweeney also had "Skipper " but then again I can't imagine a real police officer saying "Get yer trousers on, you're nicked." Happy to be corrected though

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TomatoMiserable3043@reddit

Each force usually only uses one of the two terms.

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DB-DanCooper@reddit

Do you ever go to police stations belonging to other forces and secretly eye up their uniform and equipment and compare it to your own?

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MoraleCheck@reddit

Absolutely the done thing. Especially if your force issues lousy hi-vis vests and you’re visiting a black vest force.

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DarthEros@reddit

Prances around in Avon and Somerset

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DB-DanCooper@reddit

Hahaha. That's rather amusing to me for some reason.

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MoblandJordan@reddit

What would a PC call a detective in a formal setting? Or how would a detective address their superior? Just sir or maam? I had thought they sometimes called the boss ‘sarge’ or is that only for an actual sergeant?

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Shriven@reddit

Don't listen to the other poster, DCs, especially fast track ones are reverred and widely adored by the wrankenphile

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Disastrous_Cloud_558@reddit

Are you saying wrankenphile with a straight face?

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Live-Motor-4000@reddit

r/Boneappletea

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drivelhead@reddit

I thought wrankenphilia was illegal.

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Hyperion2023@reddit

I need to know this too

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Crichtenasaurus@reddit

Ohh yes, defectives are highly respected, and when I say highly I mean just like their Winklepickers are highly polished.

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smoulderstoat@reddit

Actually, Wrankenphile was the name of the scientist, not the monster.

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KFlaps@reddit

It's a common misconception, held by all truly stupid people...

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TomatoMiserable3043@reddit

What would a PC call a detective in a formal setting?

As in a DC? You'd call them by name, as you're the same rank. At a push, maybe in a public setting, it would be DC Smith and PC Jones.

'Detective' is not a rank, it just signifies your job role and that you've passed a specific exam. A detective constable or detective sergeant is the same rank as a PC or sergeant.

how would a detective address their superior?

Usually by name if it's a sergeant, 'boss' or 'guv' if it's a DI or DCI, then 'sir' or 'ma'am' for superintendent and above.

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H_R_1@reddit

line of duty taught me thus

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S-Harrier@reddit

Makes sense to me, I’m not a police officer but a good mate is a custody Sargent and he’s definitely the miserable bastard of the friend group.

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R3ddit300@reddit (OP)

Thanks for a such detailed answer! Interesting!

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ellasfella68@reddit

I once worked with a Sergeant who would admonish PCs who called him Sarge. “I don’t shorten Constable when I talk to you, do I!”

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gundog48@reddit

We were taught to shorten it like "sa'arnt" when I was at army. "Sarge" was punishable by NCOs taking the piss breaking into bad American WWII film impressions!

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DeeJay1973@reddit

"Sarge? Sarge! There's only 3 Sarges in this army: massage, sausage and passage! If you call me 'Sarge' again I'll massage my sausage into your back passage!"

Takes me right back to basic training.

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No_Day6947@reddit

heard that in his voice too. loved that show

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ARobertNotABob@reddit

Roger.

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StrengthForeign3512@reddit

Yes. I have meetings with police officers and there's lots of "sir" and "ma'm" going on. I still find it really odd as a non-police officer!

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bacon_cake@reddit

I find it funny too but I do respect it. It always reminds me of A Few Good Men... you can't handle the truth.

I do find it all a bit silly but the respect those people have for rank, tradition, and the like, is often the glue that holds so much together in the background.

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stephjc@reddit

I worked as police staff for a while and every so often I would get called ma’am by officers (usually PCs, maybe also by a sergeant once or twice?) who didn’t know me, which I always got a kick out of. It wasn’t common so I think it was more a force of habit. Sir and ma’am was commonly used between officers (when speaking to more senior ranks). Heard a lot of PCs calling their own sergeants “Sarge,” but think that would be seen as disrespectful if they used it for sergeants that they didn’t know well.

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No_Actuary9100@reddit

They make a crackling sound and say ‘Roger’ after every sentence

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Ok-Explanation1990@reddit

"Whisky kettle Barbecue. Kkchh...".

https://youtu.be/N5X8eQ3nYAs?si=6ha8BIqori1JhiaR

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QuentinUK@reddit

This is just American police where they shoot you or kneel on your neck if you say the wrong thing and they accuse you of resisting arrest.

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Artistic-Cream6921@reddit

I work for HMCTS, and in court it's all very formal with police and court officials using 'sir', 'ma'am', 'your worship' etc. as required.

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OldGodsAndNew@reddit

Holy Father

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rohepey@reddit

Holy cow!

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greetp@reddit

Listen Guv, I’m a ten Guv a day copper.

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DisastrousTurnip3553@reddit

Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't.

For example, I called everyone in the same or lower rank by their first name. I called everyone in a higher rank Sir or Ma'am or used their rank when addressing them unless they asked me to call them by their first name.

If it was someone I'd known for a while, and was friendly with them, I'd call them by their first name, regardless of rank, unless in certain situations with other people present eg members of the public.

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psychopathic_shark@reddit

Yes mostly to their face under your breath may be a different case

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Spottyjamie@reddit

Office based in my experience are first name to each other, boss is guv or ma’am

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Single-Aardvark9330@reddit

Operational staff, especially officers do, other staff don't

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

I don't work in the police, but I do work with them.

I would say no.

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Kid_Kimura@reddit

Depends if they know each other well or not. In general anyone inspector or above is sir or ma'am until told otherwise.

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Apprehensive-Top3675@reddit

"Officer" etc – yes, absolutely.

"Sir" and "Ma'am" are not really used in that context. "Sir" and "Dame" are used to address people who have been given a knighthood/damehood. "Sir" and "Miss" are used to address teachers at school. "Sir" is sometimes used by staff when talking to a customer ("Ma'am" and "Miss" less so).

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