Do UK police still carry a whistle?

[Drago]

As a practical matter, no, unless on duties requiring the wearing of a tunic. I was issued a whistle when I joined TVP in 1991, but when I transferred forces in 2002 I didn't get one.

 

[Gwylan]

As a practical matter, no, unless on duties requiring the wearing of a tunic. I was issued a whistle when I joined TVP in 1991, but when I transferred forces in 2002 I didn't get one.

Everyone assumed you had one
Lost it - you replace it
They don't wear out or need batteries

I had one lying around but am vague on the circumstances of its acquisition.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

The "Thunderer".

I have one in the kitchen drawer
It was my Mum's - her Dad was a copper in the old days - he was the village bobby through WW2
His Police whistle was different - this one was for other reasons - or so I was told
he told my Mum to use it down the phone if she ever got a "funny" phone call

I used it when I was a teacher in a Primary School - it was a common make teachers used
by this old one was louder

 

[Beebo]

Even as recently as the mid 80's, the WPC's on my shift would walk the beat dressed in a skirt with high heeled knee length black boots. Not the most practical when things kicked off!

Anyone who remembers the Bill will know the end credits always had a male and female officer walking away. The lady had a skirt and tights, but flat shoes I think.

 

[Profpointy]

The "Thunderer".

There was an ACME "thunderer" and also a "metropolitan" which was to a lay person's eye, and indeed ear, very similar. I owned one or t'other but I think now lost. For caving it was (only theoretically) helpful to use whistles
on long pitches - codes for "rope free" and so on, but in practice impractical

 

[Grant Fondo]

Thanks to Chris Rea, yes.

 

[Reynard]

I wonder if Acme made them? 🤔

Edit: ~Yes, they do/did ~

It's the same type of whistles that are used by football referees. And yes, that's a real pea inside the thing.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Back in the days when they had to have certain physical attributes, the female truncheon was shorter than the males.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Even as recently as the mid 80's, the WPC's on my shift would walk the beat dressed in a skirt with high heeled knee length black boots. Not the most practical when things kicked off!

Yeah, but some of us liked that kind of uniform!! 🧐

 

[Stephenite]

I was looking for my orange-coloured hikers whistle a couple of weeks ago but couldn't find it.

Fortunately, my Osprey backpack has one built-in on the shoulder strap.

This made me feel a little bit safer when I was taking the kids along a well-marked trail up a 'hill' in Telemark. This 'hill' turned out to be quite steep in sections and had a good deal of exposure. At one point I sat the kids down and taught them the morse code for SOS and the 6 short blasts, etc.

Whistles are useful still.

 

[raleighnut]

I was looking for my orange-coloured hikers whistle a couple of weeks ago but couldn't find it.

Fortunately, my Osprey backpack has one built-in on the shoulder strap.

This made me feel a little bit safer when I was taking the kids along a well-marked trail up a 'hill' in Telemark. This 'hill' turned out to be quite steep in sections and had a good deal of exposure. At one point I sat the kids down and taught them the morse code for SOS and the 6 short blasts, etc.

Whistles are useful still.

I always carried one when hill walking

 

[Dave7]

I always had a good/expensive one when scuba diving.
Before anyone says it......for when I was on the surface.....for some reason not much good under water v

 

[Dirk]

but not female officers

I presume there was a logical reason for this but I can;t think of one

It's a well known fact that women can't whistle....

 

[tom73]

They still are issued and carried by HMP prison officers and staff. One came already attached to Mrs 73 key chain when she got issued with it. Private sector prison don’t issue them.

 

[Mo1959]

They still are issued and carried by HMP prison officers and staff. One came already attached to Mrs 73 key chain when she got issued with it. Private sector prison don’t issue them.

Yes, I remember having one, but once tunics stopped being worn other than ceremonial occasions I’m not sure many staff carried them. It’s gone all casual now with polo shirts and fleeces. Some officers still stick it on their key chains though. The radios have personal alarms now anyway.