Ngaio Marsh's detective novels and British policemen's boots

Cafe Society
1

I’ve been re-reading some of Ngaio Marsh’s detective novels recently, with Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn and his sidekick Detective-Inspector Fox.

When it comes to the first interviews after the murder, one of the suspects will generally make a comment about Fox’s footwear, along the lines of “you’re obviously a policeman - just look at your boots”. On the other hand, the suspects will often be surprised that Alleyn is a policeman because his clothes, and particularly his shoes, are so elegant. I assume that Fox is not in uniform - it’s just his boots that give him away.

So what is it about British policemen’s boots that is (or used to be) so distinctive? I’ve wandered around looking at the boots that NSW police officers wear, and they don’t look all that much different from other men’s boots.

2

I don’t think there was anything distinctive about their boots per se, but policemen, who spent long hours on the beat in all weathers, stereotypically wore sturdy boots similar to those worn by soldiers or workmen. As you say, Fox would have been in plain clothes – and as he’s a Detective Inspector, probably quite a good suit; not the expensive Saville Row tailoring that Alleyn would wear, but respectable – from the ankles up, he probably looks like a middle-management businessman or similar. Except that he’s wearing boots, instead of the well-shined shoes that would normally be expected. It’s the mismatch that’s distinctive.

3

I always thought it was that a rozzer’s kippers were so much larger than a normal bloke’s - big boots=bigfeet=Old Bill.