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Why have the Metropolitan Police started to call themselves cops?
Americanism at its finest...
Ok first of all I just want to make it clear I have nothing against police or America. I love America but this is Britain NOT America.
I'm getting really irritated with all this Americanism here in London, its getting very pathetic now. Why are the Metropolitan Police calling themselves cops?
I was watching TV last night and watched (Brit Cops) hows that for Americanism. The word (Brit) is what Americans call us British and the word (Cop) is American. Much of what I saw was very bizarre the Met police were even chewing gum some wearing sunglasses trying to act all cool and American. They where also using words like (Police Cruiser) or cop car and so on.
Why does everything revolve around America over here?
The word "Cop" and "Copper" are two different words, but people here in Britain have always called the police coppers and not "cops" Yes the word cop maybe short for copper & may have come from elsewhere years ago but again Britain has aways used the phrase coppers & not cops. Also its not just all the American phases alone, its the way they use them and act like their in some American movie.
The reason why my picture is an American flag is because I'm married to an American woman and I have had the privilege to spend lots of time in America. Besides America is a great country so why not.
8 Answers
- garrytooLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
Sorry we are just plain cool the (Brits ) have always been our big brothers and has been there for us through many wars I take my hat of to you true gentleman. A little stiff necked maybe but well worth any effort.
- ?Lv 68 years ago
I don't know why you think cop is an American term. As far as I know police have been known as coppers in Britain for many years. I know there are lots of theories as to how they got that nickname but I'm not sure there's a definitive answer. It's not a new thing and it's not an Americanism.
- ?Lv 78 years ago
You need to do a bit more research before you post "Cop" is not an American
word nor is wearing sunglasses an Americanism. Police cars called police
cruiser never heard it in the UK
- Sal*UKLv 78 years ago
When the english started the metropolitan police force (the first organised force in england) they based it on the french.
So the term copper comes from the latin word CAPPERE which means to capture.
"Old Bill" was King William IV, whose constables were an early form of police. (It is often said erroneously that he was on the throne when the police were founded. Actually he did not succeed George IV until 1830
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- BruceLv 78 years ago
Cop is not an American term. Cop is Latin. It is from the word "caper" which means "to seize" or "to capture".
It is still used in other forms today such as "cop a feel", "cop an attitude", or "cop a plea".
Source(s): Law enforcement since 1991 - TeeknoLv 78 years ago
Yeah, actually, we Americans got that from the Brits. That term is about 150 years old, and originated in England.
Source(s): http://orvillejenkins.com/words/cops.html - Anonymous8 years ago
are you watching to much TV. it a name put by people. visit Britain and learn the culture. it's not what they call their police always good to learn more things in life
- ?Lv 78 years ago
"started to"???
Don't be ridiculous, they have been called and called themselves cops for all of my life (58 years) at least.
