New BLUE Police for Europe

Hi Guys,
Just a update on the uniforms changes across Europe.

Poland started it's change over during 2008, firstly with their vehicles, using the same colour as Germany and then with their winter uniforms.
https://i.servimg.com/u/f88/13/98/25/75/new_po10.jpg[img]
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The photos show that the uniform closely follows the new European style with some variation, note stripe on trousers and baseball caps. The NEW Polish Police badge is shown at the top of the compilation photo and surprising no longer incorporates the White Eagle. The Rank structure may have changed also, but more on this as I find out. A standard arm patch seems to be in use, more on this later.

The Dress uniform at present is still the older style with the Grey jacket and peaked cap, as shown in the lower centre photo of the compilation.

More info as and when I get it. I am sourcing photos of some of the other European forces with NEW uniforms to keep everyone up to date, now that I know how to post photos.

Best Regards,
Les

Hey Les, would you happen to know anything regarding the rank structure and rank insignia for the post 2005 Austrian Federal Police? I have been trying to obtain that information but I have had no luck so far. The rank insignia website only has the pre 2005 Federal Police and the Federal Gendarmerie.

Hi Chris,
Check out this link

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dienstgrade_der_%C3%B6sterreichischen_Sicherheitsexekutive

It's the German Wikipedia web page, so hope you can understand German, although if you can't it i s pretty self explanatory.

It shows the current rank insignias and the two previous issues from the BundesPolizei and BundesGendarmerie which amalgamated to create the current force. Everything should be downloadable and give you all the details you need.

Let me know if you need info on the patches and other insignias.

Best Regards,
Les

Les-Art wrote:Hi Chris,
Check out this link

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dienstgrade_der_%C3%B6sterreichischen_Sicherheitsexekutive

It's the German Wikipedia web page, so hope you can understand German, although if you can't it i s pretty self explanatory.

It shows the current rank insignias and the two previous issues from the BundesPolizei and BundesGendarmerie which amalgamated to create the current force. Everything should be downloadable and give you all the details you need.

Let me know if you need info on the patches and other insignias.

Best Regards,
Les

Thanks Les, that's exactly what I needed! One again you are a lifesaver (or a hobby saver I should say lol)

Hi Chris,
Glad to be of help.

On the German Wikipedia sites I found this one,

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtsbezeichnungen_bei_der_deutschen_Polizei#Besonders_herausgehobene_Positionen_im_H.C3.B6heren_Dienst

It explains exactly what you were asking about in an earlier post regarding the titles of the various ranks. This website shows the Green Ranks and the variations I mentioned by Lander , along side the NEW Blue ranks which shows a standardisation across Germany.
Plenty of 'clickable links' which I would highly reccomend for more great info, you'll be there for a while going through all the links.

For details of which German Lander is wearing which style of uniform and a timeline for the full change over, go to this website;

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/polizeiuniformen_(deutshland)

Plenty of good info and photos. Also try the links from this site for even more good info.

I've found quite a few clear photos of some of the other NEW uniforms used round Europe, so just going through them to clear them up and enhance them before posting. One thing I have noticed is the almost universal use of the 'Baseball' Cap, mostly of the U.S. type but thankfully some more traditional looking ones.

Best Regards,

Les

Thanks for the links Les!

I too am not a big fan of baseball caps but thankfully here in the US most cops rarely wear anysort of headgear while on duty outside of ceremonial events and in bad weather. The few cops that do wear headgear for day to day activities are almost always state troopers who usually wear the campaign hat or Setson style hat.

Some questions regarding the Austrian ranks:

1) What is the meaning of FGr. 6, FGr. 7, and FGr. 8? I assume this means like Class 6/7/8 or Grade 6/7/8?

2) Likewise, what is the meaning of E2a and E2b?

Hi Chris,
Answers to your questions on the Austrian Polizei ranks;

1) Correct, FGr refers to a Grade, normally achieved by years of service without having to take another test.
2) E2a and E2b refers to the employment status within the government, like a pay scale. A full explanation is given in the pdf document listed at the bottom of the web page, scroll down to Weblinks and click on the second one down. It shows which ranks are grouped together in each E category. My german isn't that good but I think it is understandable to a non-german speaker.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other questions and if I can help I will.

Found a bunch of 'Official' photos of the NEW Austrian Polizei uniforms, I'll compile them onto a page and post them shortly.

Best Regards,
Les

Hi Guys,
On the subject of the baseball cap as an official piece of European headwear, I thought I would complie some photos together to give you a better impression of how similar the various countries Police look now.

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Best Regards,
Les

Hi Guys,
Compiled the following images to show the new style insignias used by the French 'Police Nationale' since 2007 ,when they changed to the new style uniform ,see my post on 'uniforms on building banner', forgot to mention French police, so didn't get any comments.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f88/13/98/25/75/pn_ins11.jpg
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The picture shows the basic uniform for the 'Police Nationale' the NEW arm patches are worn to show the following;
Right side - The title of the greater formation to which the wearer belongs - 'Securite Publique' is the main one used throughout the country. This patch always seems to be shield shape.
Left Side - This is the title of the lesser formation normally but this seems to be the generic one for the 'Securite Publique' . This patch always seems to be round in shape.

These patches replace the generic set of POLICE NATIONALE rocker and SECURITE PUBLIQUE shield used up to 2006.

The shield patches shown are just some of those used throughout metropolitan France, at the moment I do not have a definitive list.

The lesser or 'Specialist' round patches have literally hundreds of different designs with some being designed by the individual units so the variations are incredible and the imagary on them is not those you see on 'official' insignias in most countries. Those shown are as follow;
Paris Metro unite Securite.
S I R Roubaix , sorry forgot what S I R means for the time being but I'll find, Roubaix is the area.
32nd Companiagne d'Intervention . Tactical unit for the 32nd district of Paris.
B R I - Repression of Banditry, these units are spread all over France, this patch is for the central Office.
Not sure what D.C. R.J. means at the botom of the patch but I'll work it out.
B A C - Brigade Anti Criminaliste, these are the most numerate specialist units working all over the cities and towns of France and initally look like CRS Maintenance of Order units in Dark Blue riot suits. 2 examples are shown and any numbers on them seem to refer to a district (of a city/town) or Department (region).

It would take another thread just devoted to these new patch designs to show everything available, however I will work on making a list of the titles of the various special units which are used so that if you come across any you will at least know what they represent.

Now a word about Rank insignias. The main rank structure has not changed , the only real difference is that the epaulattes are soft slide on types for the work uniform and the older hard pointed with button type for the dress uniform which is stilll the 'Balmain' design with new patches. Here is the 'Official' chart.
https://i.servimg.com/u/f88/13/98/25/75/pn_ran10.jpg

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The actual ranks are slightly different than those shown as the fabrics used have different designs on them but my guess is that the public don't need to know this and only need to know how high up the rank structure everyone is. I am working on a better chart which will also show the insignias used on the dark blue utility uniform.

The above info is related to the 'Police Nationale' and I will deal with the 'Police Nationale CRS' as a seperate issue as they have a few differences which are worth noting.

I am also researching the current uniforms ,insignias and ranks of the 'Gendarmerie Nationale' which again have changed in recent years and are worthy of comment as to what has been kept as traditional and what has been modernised. I have found some excellent photos on the internet and from a friend who just came back from holiday, not to mention of course watching the 'Tour de France' for three weeks onthe T.V.

Well as usual comments and additional info are welcomed.

Best Regards.
Les

Werent the Trainee Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Commandant at one point called Trainee Inspector, Inspector, Principal Inspector, Division Inspector, etc?

AFAIK the Gendarmerie ranks are similar to that of the French Army except General of the Army is called General of the Gendarmerie and they use the cavalry sergeant ranks (marchel des logis).

Hi Chris,
The rank titles certainly have changed for the uniformed Police.
When the 'Police Nationale' were formed in 1968 the rank structure was slightly different, however I am not sure at which point they changed until the 2007 chart.

The ranks that are
NOW BEFORE
eleve lieutenant eleve Officier de la Paix
Lieutenat Officeir de la Paix
Captain Officier de la Paix Principal
Commandant Commandant

The ranks you mention were used by the 'Police Judiciare', Plain clothes ranks or detective grades.

Two senior ranks have been added which are ;
Inspecteur Generale
Director des Services ACTIFS

The Gendarmerie ranks are indeed based on the Military structure ,however recently I have noticed that the style of some of the actual insignias has changed. Plus they are using a lot of items made of plastic now and designs of patches have changed and the placement on the unifrom is different. So a few changes to note.

Best Regards,
Les

It seems that the spacing of the lettering in my last post has been altered.

should read:
Now
Eleve Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, Commandant
BEFORE
Eleve Officier de la Paix, Officier de la Paix, Officier de la Paix Principal, Commandant.

Regards,
Les

Just to keep this thread going.

Here are the 'Official' pictures of the all the uniforms currently used by the 'National Police of Finland' in 2009.
https://i.servimg.com/u/f88/13/98/25/75/finlan10.jpg
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I will post more 'Official' pictures of other coutries uniforms shortly.

Best Regards,
Les

Hi Guys,
Going a little east but still staying in Europe, thought this may be of interest.

Kepis were discussed previously in this thread as part of the French Gendarmerie traditional uniform and it looks like the Ukraine Police like the look and have copied it in their unique style. Overall appearance is quite French but they look too small for everyone wearing them.
https://i.servimg.com/u/f88/13/98/25/75/ukrain10.jpg
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The Kepi is ONLY used by the ROAD PATROL , however it appears that the Yellow banded ones are used in the towns and the White banded ones(which are reflective when light hits them) are used in rural areas. The embroidered hat badge shown is for the lower ranks, the higher rank ones have gold thread.
On the left side of the hat is the flag of Ukraine and on the right side the letters 'ANC' in cyrilic script, these letters represent the first letter of the title shown on the left arm patch.
The arm patches are worn in pairs as shown, the left arm patch changes with more gold thread as the wearer goes up the ranks, the one shown is for the O/R's, the right arm patch is worn by everyone and doesn't change by rank 'MBC' is the abreviation for the Ministry of the Interior.
The ranks insignias are similar to the USSR ones with chevrons replacing the bars, but the officer ranks being almost identical as can be seen on the Captain wearing the round top cap in one of the photos.

Comments or questions welcomed.

Best Regards,
Les

It looks like the Russian Federation Police has started the change to the European format of vehicles and Blue uniforms.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f88/13/98/25/75/new_ru10.jpg
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This shows the Silver and Blue European colour scheme for the patrol cars and the man on the right has the New uniform which is more Blue in it's shade to the man on the left with the older uniform.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f88/13/98/25/75/russia11.jpg
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These guys are Moscow Police ,again with new patrol car colour scheme, the man on the left has the old grey uniform with new insignias and the other has the newer Blue/Grey uniform. Although they haven't gone with a Dark Blue uniform they are trying to get away from the USSR Grey uniforms. Motorcycle police officers from Moscow have been issued with Dark Blue breeches and Jackets for ceremonial occassions.

Anybody else got some information to share about current European Police uniforms ?

Best Regards,
Les

Swiss Police gone Blue!

The cantons police of Switzerland have made the change to Blue uniforms , starting in 2002 and ending with Bern in 2008.
As far as I can work out with my limited language skills it started with the creation of the group ‘La Conference Latine des Chefs des Departemente de Justice et Police’ (CLDJP) in 1996. This group was formed to discuss inter-agency co-operation between all the French speaking cantons. Without going into the ins and outs of policing policies and politics between the cantons, the one aspect of interest to us is the common use of equipment, including uniforms.
It was decided that the NEW Common Uniforms would be based on the French Gendarmerie model utilising two main features - Royal Blue jackets and Baseball caps with the grenade emblem. All 6 cantons plus Tessin (the Italian speaking one) now wear this basic design with some minor differences , they each kept their respective patches and rank insignias, but essentially are the same to eye of the local population and tourists. These common uniforms didn’t start to make an appearance until 2005 in the French areas.

Two further groups were raised in the German speaking cantons with the same ideals as the French one, ‘PolizeiKonkordat NordWestSchweiz’ (PKNW) and ’OstSchweizer PolizeiKonkordat’ (OSPK) , starting earlier the German cantons initial changes of uniforms occurred in 2002 and seem to have ended with Bern in 2008. As with the French cantons they kept their rank insignias ,but have created corporate logos contained in a rectangle directly embroidered onto the left breast off the uniform shirt and jacket, in place of the normal arm patch. Arm patches are still used by specialised units. The German uniforms feature - Dark Blue jackets and baseball caps with POLICE on the front

One confusing aspect of ALL the cantons is the interchangeable use of the word POLICE and POLIZEI across the country , on uniforms. I haven’t come across a standardised policy on this and it could just be that it is cheaper to buy a garment that has the word printed on it than to have one made with the correct term for that area.

This is the list of cantons under each group;
CLDJP - Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchatel, Tessin, Valais , Vaud.
PKNW - Aargau, BaselLand, BaselStadt, Bern, Luzern, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Solothurn, Uri, Zug.
OSPK - Appenzell A-R, Appenzell I-R, Glarus, Graubunden, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, St.Gallen,
Thurgau, Zurich.

So all of the Cantons Police/Kantonspolizei in Switzerland now wear Blue.
The City Police/StadtPolizei still wear there own uniform colour which is not standardised yet but may be to either Grey or a lighter Blue, more news on this later.

Here is the photos of the New uniforms for the Geneva Gendarmerie.

Best Regards,
Les

Hi Guys,
Here are photos showing the variations of the Swiss Police, german cantons jackets.

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https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/13/98/25/75/swiss_10.jpg

1. St. Gallen 2. Nidwalden 3. BaselStadt 4. Bern 5. Graubunden 6. Argau 7. Bern

Just noticed some baseball caps with POLIZEI on them, so this would be a correction to a previous post.

Best Regards,
Les

I read a science fiction story once in which a fellow went back in time to alter events so as to improve mankind's history. From one of his trips back to the Stone Age he came back to find some success--- modern society was somewhat civilized, and police uniforms were pink!

M Conrad
Maryland

Posted on wrong thread ,now apearing on correct thread

Posted on wrong thread now transfered to correct thread