Met Police BANS officers from wearing badge honouring hero cops

Metropolitan Police officers have been banned from wearing a badge that commemorates hero cops who have been killed in the line of duty. 

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley's hardline stance, announced on September 18, has left cops furious with one source labelling it 'an insult to fallen officers'. 

Rick Prior, chairman of the Met Federation branch, said families of officers who died on the frontline would be 'equally dismayed' by the news.  

The Thin Blue Line emblem - black and white Union flag with a think horizontal blue line - is intended as 'a mark of remembrance and respect' for those who paid the ultimate price to maintain law and order.

Scotland Yard's uniform policy was updated following 'a lot of engagement internally with both formal and informal groups'. 

It bans officers on duty from wearing 'any badges, lanyards or patches which advertise causes, beliefs or charities', reported The Sun. 

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However, the Met said there would be exceptions for the red Haig Poppy and the Police Memorial badge during their respective periods. 

One source said 'the timing could not be worse', with the policy update coming on the 12th anniversary of the murders of PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes who were killed by Dale Cregan.   

Mr Prior urged Sir Mark to reconsider his decision: 'Officers will be extremely saddened and angry to hear this news.

'The families of officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep the public safe will be equally dismayed.' 

MailOnline has contacted the Met Police for comment.  

Met officers working at the Pride celebrations in the capital last year were told they were not allowed to wear the badge in the capital in case it offended the LGBT+ community. 

The decision for the 'non-negotiable' blanket ban came as a similar symbol, based on the American Stars and Stripes, has been linked to transphobic far-Right groups in the US.

But it drew heavy criticism with Debbie Adlam, the mother of murdered police constable Andrew Harper, saying it was a symbol of her son's 'dedication to the force'.

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She told The Mail on Sunday in July last year: 'Since we lost Andrew we have considered the Thin Blue Line image to be a universal memorial to the loss of these officers.' 

Politicians, senior officers and campaigners also condemned the decision. One former officer, Henry Miller, said the Met had 'lost their minds over this'.

Mr Miller, who founded the free speech campaign group Fair Cop, added: 'Nobody in this country says that the Thin Blue Line is political. It's completely crazy. We have seen officers wearing all kinds of insignia associated with political causes, none of which they should do.

'But the one thing that police should be able to do is memorialise their own colleagues.'

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel also leapt to the defence of the Thin Blue Line badge saying it was 'a mark of respect in policing of the sacrifices our police officers make for their service and the threats they face, day in, day out'.

Debbie said: 'It concerns me that there are those who want to take [the badge] away. I hope that today is not the start of the end for the Thin Blue Line and all it means to us in the UK.' 

Advice from the Met commander ahead of the celebrations said: 'No "Thin Blue Line" badges/patches are to be worn whilst policing this event.

'These have been linked to far-Right and anti-trans groups in the US and this year’s Pride is focusing very much on the trans community. This is non-negotiable and supervisors are expected to ensure this is adhered to please.'