Impersonating a police officer?! (horse related honest!)

Natch

Natch

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Having read a post below about somebody using a police surplus jacket to ride in, I searched for them and found quite a few on ebay. Markings saying Police have been removed, but quite handily for being a horse rider the police style blue check markings remain. Thought that would help us look more like mounted officers when riding on the roads, to the casual car driver, therefore affording us a bit more respect
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Having had a "uniform" jacket previously (Ambulance service) I remembered they have slots where you can put your particular position/unit (e.g PARAMEDIC) on your back and breast pocket.

So, my questions are:

1. Would many people mess with me if they saw me riding a horse wearing a high viz jacket showing THIS ?!

2. Is it technically classed as impersonating a police officer and I would be technically breaking the law?! I'm pretty sure impersonating a police officer is illegal, but if I buy a police surplus jacket which doesn't actually SAY police on it, and pop these in for a bit of fun (and I do handle dogs! So its not a lie!
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) am I going to get done by the first police officer I come across?
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NB jacket would look similar to THIS
 
You should be fine hun. I used to have a riding friend who was a bona fide police officer and she used to ride in an ordinary yellow jacket, like council workmen wear. But the way she rode her horse and stuck her hand up to HALT any traffic that needed to be halted, no-one was in any doubt whatsoever that she was a woman not to be messed with! SO buy it and wear it with pride!
 
Providing the jacket does not say 'POLICE' on it & certainly does not have any numbers on the epaulettes then it is fine & you commit no offences.
 
What would they do with the horse when they carted you off to the nick?
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No offence if you don't have police logos on, or tell anyone that you are an officer
Mind you that could be your next career perhaps
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I really want to get one of these! Would be brilliant to be able to boss traffic around when and if it was needed rather than be sped past and ignored!
 
That my jacket!!!!

Its the checked pattern that makes it recognisable as a police jacket, but like u say all the logos have been removed so it fine to wear them!

I was amazed at I've gotten whilst wearing it...best christmas pressie ever!
 
As long as you didn't impersonate an Officer and all logos are removed, wear it otherwise it is a criminal offence.
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The thing with the reflective jackets is that they are updated so frequently, particularly for motorway wear etc, they become out of date for the forces and then become suplus. Stores departments don't want the old ones back.

I think you'll be fine with dog handler on when on your horse as dog handlers handle dogs not horses!!
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A lady on our yard is a police officer and she wears her old one with no problem, she also has one of those that the mounted police have that comes over the horses bum! Its soo cool her horse is an ID and massive so really looks like a police horse!!
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No problem at all as long as all badges are removed and cars will bloody well think twice when they see you!
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I often wear a surplus hi-viz firefighter's jacket like this:

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It's brilliant, they are extremely well insulated and lined all round the neck and wrists to stop draughts getting in. They're a fraction of the price of horse-branded stuff, I do love the Rockfish jacket but the price is ridiculous.
 
well..................i have to admit to hacking out on a police jacket with all the police labels still on, it was GREAT for tracffic slowing down but sadly my mother disposed of it (for my own good i think!!) but really makes a differece to the traffic!!!
 
You'll be fine, I wear my ex St John Ambulance hi viz jacket when out and walking down the road, it has the black epaulettes on the shoulders still, all the cars slow down as they pass me!
Oz
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Long sleeved Hi-Viz jackets ensure that motorists can see your hand signals far better.

I would also suggest that you do the BHS Road safety course as this will teach you a number of skills to use when riding on the roads.

It is illegal to impersonate a police officer so don't put Police or the police hatched squares logo on it or around your crash hat etc.
 
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Long sleeved Hi-Viz jackets ensure that motorists can see your hand signals far better.

I would also suggest that you do the BHS Road safety course as this will teach you a number of skills to use when riding on the roads.

It is illegal to impersonate a police officer so don't put Police or the police hatched squares logo on it or around your crash hat etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

When you say hatched squares logo... do you mean like the ones on the jacket on my second link?

Done to Riding & road safety training in PC yonks back (polishes halo)
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I have one from the "one stop cop shop" (google it!) and I went to their warehouse (they actually provide police with the kit) where I got brand new reflective jackets of varying thicknesses and he also gave me lights to clip onto the radio collar etc! He was really helpful and the stuff I got was vastly discounted compared to the price he sells it to the police for.

He confirmed it is perfectly legal to leave the blue and check reflective on!

He is in Wells Somerset - highly recomended!
 
I ride in one, and as long as you haven't got the police logo on it's fine.

I find that people aren't generally sure if you are or not, so do seem to slow down and give me a wide berth, just in case!!
 
I have a high viz yellow jacket. And when riding in it the other day on the bridlepath, someone said "oh my gosh... i thought you were a police officer for a second there!!"

So i certainly believe it works!
 
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