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Metropolitan Police Service

The thin blue line

The "thin blue line" typically refers to the police as the line between law and disorder and anarchy within society. The "blue" refers to the colour of many police service uniforms. Its history goes back as far as the Crimean War (1854) where troops stood their ground against a Russian Army cavalry. "The Thin Blue Line" is also a British TV sitcom (1995-96) written by Ben Elton, starring Rowan Atkinson. More recently, it has been flown by white supremacists, appearing next to Confederate flags and co-opted by the alternative right (alt-right) a far-right, white nationalist movement.

In an answer to a London Assembly question about the thin blue line badge (16/11/22), the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said: "The ‘Thin Blue Line’ imagery is commonly accepted as demonstrating camaraderie among the police family and in support for a number of police charities including those supporting the survivors of officers killed in the line of duty. It is not representative of a specific cause, belief or charity; rather a general commonality among police officers, police staff, police community support officers, special constables and the wider policing family. Images overlaid with the ‘Thin Blue Line’ are typically posted online following the death of a police officer as a mark of remembrance and respect. Subtle wearing of this imagery, e.g. a Velcro patch or pin badge is not prohibited by the current MPS dress code."

However, in October 2023 the Guardian reported: "Metropolitan police officers are openly defying orders not to wear badges appropriated by the far right and linked to white supremacy. In July, the force’s chief, Mark Rowley, banned officers from wearing the “thin blue line” badge saying that in the US an equivalent symbol had been used by “hard-right groups”. However, images have emerged of Met officers wearing the symbol late last month as they policed a stand-off between LGBTQ+ rights supporters and a right wing group over a drag act’s performance at the Honor Oak pub in Lewisham, south London."

MPS officers were seen wearing thin blue line badges at Black Pride 2024.

Wearing of thin blue line badges | MPS | 01.FOI.23.031282
Thin blue line | Wikipedia
Alt-right | Wikipedia

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