Pacific Police from Les White

Another excellent addition to the site.
Thanks Les

https://i.servimg.com/u/f62/12/22/09/10/pacp12.jpg
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Very good art work.
thanks
WF

The white helmets worn by the Western Samoan police were the same as those worn by New Zealand police until about 15 years ago. They were discarded then, partly because younger officers claimed to feel foolish wearing them, as well as for the practical reasons that they were too high to wear comfortably in cars and didn't give much sun protection to ears . A proposal three years ago to bring the white helmets back for foot patrols on the grounds that people responded favourably to the trusty-bobby image did not get very far.

Don't know about Western Samoa, but they are still worn by the Toelau police.

Hi BuistR,
Found this photo on Flickr , posted by Sean on my behalf.
It shows the Western Samoa Police on Parade in 1996, so they were still wearing the Helmets at least on ceremonial occassions then.
Also interesting to see that they are wearing jackets , instead of just the shirt sleeve order ,so it may be a more important ceremony.
Also just seen a photo of the Vanuatu Police wearing a Dark Blue LavaLava and normal UK style peaked cap, so may attempt another illustration to keep the Pacific Islands Police theme going.
What was the previous name of Toekulau ? I can't keep up with all the country name changes around the world.
Best Regards,
Les

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Hi Les - thanks for posting the Western Samoan police pic. Attached is a recent newspaper photo of two Tokelaun constables showing their current uniform (including helmet). Tokelau is a "non self-governing territory" of New Zealand. As such it shares a common historical experience with ex-NZ colony Western Samoa - which is apparent in details such as similar police dress.

Cheers

Hi BuistR,
That's an interesting photo.
So the colonial pattern of issuing old kit to forces outside the mainland still exists. Looks like that's where all the NZ Police Bobby Helmets went to!!
Interestingly just found a photo on Corbis of a Western Samoa cop directing traffic wearing an entirely Blue uniform, same blue as the NZ police, consisting of Flat cap, jacket with short sleeves and LavaLava . My thinking now is that they may also have been issued Blue Helmets ?
Check out Corbis put in 'Western Samoa Police' in the search engine and you will get two hits, one of the photo I just mentioned and one of the Police Band which is interesting also as the drum appears to read ROYAL SAMOA POLICE BAND. Although part of the lettering is obscured by the drummers arm this would seen to be the word which is there, when did they become Royal ? I have noticed that Corbis doesn't check photo descriptions ,so many of them are inaccuarte or just simply wrong, you will have to make your own judgement on what you are looking at. I sat last night and found photos of all the Caribean Police Forces except Saint Lucia, which I found excellent for doing more illustrations as they are in full colour, so look out for more of my efforts on Island Police.

Are Vanuatu, Kiribati and Tuvalu under the control of New Zealand also ?

Best Regards,
Les

Les-Art wrote:Hi BuistR,
That's an interesting photo.
So the colonial pattern of issuing old kit to forces outside the mainland still exists. Looks like that's where all the NZ Police Bobby Helmets went to!!
Interestingly just found a photo on Corbis of a Western Samoa cop directing traffic wearing an entirely Blue uniform, same blue as the NZ police, consisting of Flat cap, jacket with short sleeves and LavaLava . My thinking now is that they may also have been issued Blue Helmets ?
Check out Corbis put in 'Western Samoa Police' in the search engine and you will get two hits, one of the photo I just mentioned and one of the Police Band which is interesting also as the drum appears to read ROYAL SAMOA POLICE BAND. Although part of the lettering is obscured by the drummers arm this would seen to be the word which is there, when did they become Royal ? I have noticed that Corbis doesn't check photo descriptions ,so many of them are inaccuarte or just simply wrong, you will have to make your own judgement on what you are looking at. I sat last night and found photos of all the Caribean Police Forces except Saint Lucia, which I found excellent for doing more illustrations as they are in full colour, so look out for more of my efforts on Island Police.

Are Vanuatu, Kiribati and Tuvalu under the control of New Zealand also ?

Best Regards,
Les

Kiribati and Tuvalu both became independent from the UK in 1979 and Vanuatu became independent from the UK in 1980. As for Western Samoa, I believe the country is a constitutional monarchy hence the Royal in their police force name.

Here are the websites of some of the Caribbean police forces:

http://www.policia.gobierno.pr/
Puerto Rico Commonwealth Police (US)

http://www.vipd.gov.vi/main/main.aspx
US Virgin Islands Territorial Police (US)

http://www.psdp.gov.vg/
Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (UK/British Virgin Islands) - link is down atm

http://www.rgpf.gd/
Royal Grenada Police Force

http://www.rbpf.org/
Royal Bahamas Police Force

http://www.barbadospolice.gov.bb
Royal Barbados Police Force

http://www.rcips.ky/
Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (UK)

http://www.rslpf.com/
Royal St. Lucia Police Force

http://www.police.bm/
Bermuda Police Service (UK)

http://www.kparuba.com/
Aruba Police Corps (NL)

http://www.cybercur.com/government/index.html
Netherlands Antilles Police Corps (NL)

http://www.policianacional.gob.do
Dominican Republic National Police

http://www.jcf.gov.jm/
Jamaica Constabulary Force

I was unable to find links for Antigua & Barbuda, St. Vincent & and the Grenadines, Dominica, the UK overseas territories of Anguilla, Montserrat, and the Turks & Caicos, any of the French Caribbean territories, and the Dutch territory of St. Martin. I believe the French territories just have a detachment of the French National Police rather then a local police force but I could be wrong.

Hi Chris,
Thanks for that great list of websites, I'll certainly be checking them out. Especially if they have clear colour photos of police officers in uniform.

I hadn't thought about the 'Royal' designation as being a local title for Western Samoa and of course, I'm sure you are correct. I just assume 'Royal' with regards to Commonwealth and ex-commonwealth countries refer to the U.K. Monarchy, with this in mind would Tonga actually be the 'Royal Tonga Police' as this country also has a monarch ?

With regards to the French dependencies around the world, not just in the caribean, some of them do have local Police as well as detachments and Legions of the Gendarmerie Nationale. French Polynesia has a Police Municipale in Papeete and in New Caledonia has one in Noumea.

Would you happen to know if the 'Jamiaca Constabulary' have a special unit covering Ports and Airports whose uniform has Blue stripes and cumberbund in place of the more normal Red. I was told this some years ago but have never been able to clarify this ,although I have seen a photo of constables wearing this blue faced uniform. Any help is appreciated.

Best Regards,
Les

I believe the unit with blue rather than red details is the 'Island Special Constabulary Force'. They used to have a useful sub section on http://www.jamaicapolice.org.jm, but unfortunately not on http://www.jcf.gov.jm. Wikipedia mentions the blue facings too.

T1 wrote:I believe the unit with blue rather than red details is the 'Island Special Constabulary Force'. They used to have a useful sub section on http://www.jamaicapolice.org.jm, but unfortunately not on http://www.jcf.gov.jm. Wikipedia mentions the blue facings too.

Correct, blue piping and facings is used by the Jamaica Special Constabulary. Example. JCF sergeants have gold chevrons on red background while JSC sergeants have gold chevrons on blue background.

Hi T1 and ChrisF202,
Thanks for the info on the JSC, that solves that little mystery for me.
I'll check out the websites mentioned and if I have any more questions I'll be posting them here to make good use of the knowledge available through the fellow mebers of this growing forum.

Thanks again guys,
Best Regards,
Les