Managing Appearances

Abstract

The most obvious impediment for a police constable to be at one with the people in the street was his uniform. The uniform was there to emphasise his divergence and to signal his work tasks. In regulating traffic or intervening in minor demeanours, it would probably have been mainly helpful, but not even this could stave off the manifestation of role conflicts. If temptation overpowered the patrolling constable and he stepped into the public house for refreshments, it would have been wise for him to remove the armlet on his uniform, which stated his number and signalled that he was on duty. This is what was done by PC Polkinhorne, whose beat in Marylebone incorporated the Beehive beerhouse. Stepping in, he carefully removed the armlet, claiming to the landlord that he was off duty, and when he went out he promptly put the armlet on again.¹ With a little help from obliging publicans, all that was needed to cross the border was the removal of one small part of the policeman’s uniform.