# Why do so many police forces use blue uniforms? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 27, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425 "2011-05-27T13:48:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrGarry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@DrGarry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrGarry)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/1 "2011-05-27T13:48:06Z")
Hi All: Watching the images of the Serbian police arrest Mr Mladic, I was struck by how a light blue/dark blue combo seems to be a common theme amongst the world’s police. Their uniforms are the same combo as in my home state in Australia. Coincidence? I think not! How did that happen? For that matter, when the did the blue-white checkerboard become common as a police symbol? Perhaps this Aussie is too Anglo-centric. From my extensive viewing of Burt Reynolds films, and the Dukes of Hazzard, the various American police forces have a much more extensive set of designer colour collections. And the Chinese police seem to favour a grim green. Ok, I might have to rethink my premise. Perhaps the blue-white combo is a Euro thing. Garry ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/2 "2011-05-27T14:06:26Z")
Product association? It’s why cola cans are red, root beer cans are brown, and butter packages are yellow. It’s what people expect to see. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/3 "2011-05-27T14:15:56Z")
It would look pretty weird if the boys in blue started wearing red or yellow. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/4 "2011-05-27T14:40:01Z")
I believe London’s Metropolitan Police were the first modern police force (sorry, I don’t have a cite for that), and according to [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_uniforms_and_equipment_in_the_United_Kingdom), it was decided that they should have blue uniforms to distinguish them sharply from the red uniforms used by the British military at the time. It was considered important to stress the civilian nature of the new police force. I assume later police forces (in Britain and elsewhere) simply copied and adapted uniform styles (and, no doubt, many other aspects of police organization too) from the Met. No doubt the tendency to copy the British model is stronger in countries with strong cultural ties to Britain, but, at least as concerns superficial issues like uniform colour, it does seem to extend further than that. [French gendarmes](http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=634&q=gendarme&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=) appear to wear dark blue too, and no nation hates British influence more than the French! ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/5 "2011-05-27T15:17:46Z")
I’d guess the reason is that police uniforms are conservative by nature, and don’t want to be associated with the military, so that leaves colors like gray, brown, and blue. Add in the tradition, and you have a lot of dark blue cops. (incidentally, the Houston PD has a light-blue shirt that was just about the same color as the old Houston Oilers’ home jerseys; definitely not staid and conservative). I bet that ultimately, the first cops’ uniforms were dark blue because in the 1800s, dark blue cloth was cheaper or something practical like that. ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/6 "2011-05-27T16:39:49Z")
> [@DrGarry](#): > > Ok, I might have to rethink my premise. Perhaps the blue-white combo is a Euro thing. You’re right, it’s a [EU thing](http://www.designdenhaag.eu/police-uniforms); the commission of the European Parliament responsible for the cooperation of European police forces decided in the year 1998 after 120 sessions to clothe the police forces uniformly in blue; Britain favoured red-orange, Italy and France wanted to keep their blue, Germany (whose police forces wore mainly green-beige) decided finally to support the blue man group and that was that. But since the directive is still under discussion (anyone surprised?), no member state is forced to turn their police blue, but some countries have already begun to switch to new uniforms, among them Germany. Of course, the member states have not yet decided what _shade_ of blue should become the norm (no kidding), so, the countries that have already switched to the new blues - spending millions in the process - might have to re-clothe their forces anew in another decade or so. Ah, Europe. It’s not quite clear how this is going to further the integration process since the more important matters regarding police work – like a working and yet well-regulated EU-wide police force – are still discussed and discussed and discussed. If we have to do this all over again, can we please consider this [uniform](http://www.premiumtoyz.com/product_images/info_images/1996_0.jpg) seriously? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/7 "2011-05-27T16:45:18Z")
The whole point of a uniform is that it be instantly recognizable. If you see a cop (at least, one who’s not undercover), you should be able to tell at a glance that e’s a cop. This purpose is well-served by all cops using similar uniforms. They’re not all blue, though. Around here, they mostly seem to be black. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/8 "2011-05-27T16:46:31Z")
Dark blue also hides stains easily, so there are certain practical aspects to the color choice as well. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/9 "2011-05-27T17:42:02Z")
FWIW, here’s a page with pictures of the state police uniforms for all the states, informally collected by somebody: > **[State Agency Uniforms (56K Beware) - CHPForums](https://www.chpforums.com/forum/forum/chp-forums/general-forum/8935-state-agency-uniforms-56k-beware?t=8680)** > > questions & discussion about the department A lot are blue, but a lot aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/10 "2011-05-27T19:00:39Z")
SNIP > [@njtt](#): > > I believe London’s Metropolitan Police were the first modern police force I’m going with [Spain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police) as a reasonable interpretation of modern police deployment in a city. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/11 "2011-05-27T19:40:33Z")
> [@DrGarry](#): > > Perhaps this Aussie is too Anglo-centric. From my extensive viewing of Burt Reynolds films, and the Dukes of Hazzard, the various American police forces have a much more extensive set of designer colour collections. And the Chinese police seem to favour a grim green. > > Ok, I might have to rethink my premise. Perhaps the blue-white combo is a Euro thing. > > Garry In my experience, CITY police forces in the United States almost always wear blue uniforms. COUNTY sheriffs and deputies tend to wear different shades of brown. There seems to be a bit more variation in color among the country sheriffs’ departments. ---
**Author:** ![A.Gwilliam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@A.Gwilliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.Gwilliam)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/12 "2011-05-27T23:59:21Z")
PSNI uniforms are green. But I think I read somewhere recently that they’re going to switch over to dark blue or black, presumably so they can save money by sourcing new uniforms from suppliers to forces in Great Britain. Or I may be talking through my hat! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/13 "2011-05-28T02:44:16Z")
The Hong Kong Police used to have green uniform. They switched to blue a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/14 "2011-05-28T04:24:18Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > FWIW, here’s a page with pictures of the state police uniforms for all the states, informally collected by somebody: > > [http://www.chpforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8680](http://www.chpforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8680) > > A lot are blue, but a lot aren’t. Am I the only one noticing the post-tasering-a-suspect grin under the Kansas Highway Patrol? That’s a great shot! ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/15 "2011-05-28T05:02:59Z")
You don’t mention which state you are from. In Queensland the police had black and white uniforms until the 60’s. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/16 "2011-05-30T09:02:58Z")
I think most police forces has chosen to adapt it to be universally recognizable. Around here, the military has dibs on anything green, brown and khaki, while ambulance personell usually wear red with yellow reflective strips. Firemen wear yellow and red and the police wears blue and black. (Norwegian police wear black trousers, light blue shirts and black leather jackets.) Why it started, I don’t know, but these days it’s probably done for the same reason that in most European countries calling 911 will get you transferred to that country’s emergency number, like Norway’s 112. Cultural conditioning reinforced by decades of cop shows. I’d expect a bobby to wear black, though? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/17 "2011-05-30T10:27:46Z")
Rural Sherrif’s Deputies & Highway Patrol Officers tend toawrds brown or grey in uniforms, IMHO. Urban coppers tend towards blue, or sometimes black. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/18 "2011-05-30T12:59:40Z")
Police officers here in Topeka, Kansas, wear black. As other posters upthread have mentioned a dark color is practical. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/19 "2011-05-30T15:07:02Z")
> [@Gukumatz](#): > > … ambulance personell usually wear red with yellow reflective strips. Firemen wear yellow and red and the police wears blue and black. I don’t know if Norway has the same thinking as Sweden in this respect (but it seems very likely). They are colour coded to make it easy to see what category a person belongs to at, e.g., a fire or car crash site. > [@Gukumatz](#): > > … most European countries calling 911 will get you transferred to that country’s emergency number, like Norway’s 112. I don’t think calling 911 would get you anywhere in Europe. 112 is the international (at least within EU) distress call number. For some reason Britain has retained 999, but 112 works as well. ---
**Author:** ![A.Gwilliam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@A.Gwilliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.Gwilliam)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425/20 "2011-05-30T16:04:43Z")
> [@Gukumatz](#): > > I think most police forces has chosen to adapt it to be universally recognizable. I find it very frustrating, or perhaps astonishing, that in the US private security firms are allowed to dress/equip their staff so that they can look like police officers! > [@](#): > > I’d expect a bobby to wear black, though? Depends on the force. Some wear, or used to wear, a very dark blue, and others black. There also used to be a thing that police uniforms worn by actors couldn’t be fully identical to real uniforms. > [@Floater](#): > > I don’t think calling 911 would get you anywhere in Europe. 112 is the international (at least within EU) distress call number. I’ve read that 911 has been introduced in a number of European countries, not as an official number, but as something that is automatically redirected rather than being treated as an invalid number. > [@](#): > > For some reason Britain has retained 999, but 112 works as well. I should have thought the reason for the UK and the RoI “retaining” 999 was pretty obvious! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-police-forces-use-blue-uniforms/583425.md?page=2)