A former police officer has challenged officers at a Remembrance Sunday parade for not wearing poppies. @EvacTony posted a clip on X of him asking why they were not wearing the symbol in Nottinghamshire.
"Look at this, look. Remembrance Day parade, and you've got loads of cops. I can't see any poppies on them," he said in the video. He then asked the group of officers: "Morning, guys. Why is no one wearing a poppy."
Officers Respond to the Challenge
One of the officers replied: "I haven't got one on." "Yeah, that's what I'm saying," Tony said. "Why not?" Another officer responded: "It is our choice as to whether we wear one or not".
Tony said: "It's your choice. So, you choose to come to a Remembrance Day parade and you don't choose to wear a poppy? Ok, mate. Alright. Thank you."
Social Media Reaction and Context
He wrote alongside the video: "Why are none of you guys wearing a poppy? You're at a remembrance day parade............? I get moaned at for being critical of the cops, my intention is to show something's changed, in 2009 when I joined the Police, we would all have been wearing one."
He added: "Wear a poppy at Remembrance parade Nottinghamshire Police...... I don't think so mate........."
Nottinghamshire Police Guidelines on Poppies
Nottinghamshire Police guidelines state that the red "Haig" poppy of The Royal British Legion can be worn on uniforms "for the annual campaign period (28 October to 11 November or Remembrance Day, if later)". They add that "to maintain high standards of impartiality and professional dress", only certain items can be worn alongside a poppy.
These include lanyards issued by Nottinghamshire Police, pin badges issued by the force, pin badges issued by nationally and locally recognised staff networks, pin badges issued by staff associations of the Police Federation and Superintendents' Association, pin badges issued by recognised trade unions, and pin badges supporting approved peer support services.
The force adds: "For those permissible items set out above, they must be of moderate size and design and must not be of a political nature, offensive or worn or displayed incorrectly in accordance with the Code of Ethics. They should also not impair the effectiveness or damage the reputation of any individual or that of policing."
