In article , Clive D. W. Feather
writes
In message , Bill Borland
wrote:
I haven't looked closely at a copper recently, but it *used* to be
the case that an essential part of the uniform was a black-and-white
chequered band round the cuff, and merely removing *that* meant that
the officer was no longer "in uniform". But that was a long time ago
and things may have changed.

That was abolished no later than about 1965.

Thank you. I'm afraid I am showing my age.
I paid attention this afternoon; all our local (Met) police were
wearing short-sleeved shirts - nowhere to attach an armband. My
goodness - that would have been quite unheard of fifty years ago.
--
Bill Borland
All the things I really like to do are either
illegal, immoral or fattening.
(Alexander Woollcott, 1887-1943)