Police officers play an essential role in society, ensuring that the law is upheld and anyone that breaks the law is punished accordingly. They have many different tools, technology and equipment at their disposal. One of the more basic pieces of equipment police officers use is a whistle. There are several types of whistles used in the police force for different purposes. In this article, we take a look at these whistles and how police officers use them.
Pea whistle
The pea whistle creates a loud, high-pitched sound when police officers blow it. This is the most basic form of whistle used in the police force and one that can be purchased almost anywhere that sells whistles. This type of whistle is helpful for many different situations. One example is if a police officer is in trouble and needs to get the attention of others nearby or members of the public. They can blow their whistle to alert people to their location to get the required help. During training, pea whistles are also used to give instructions to trainee officers. These instructions can vary from simple start-stop instructions to more complex actions. Generally, the pea whistle is a very versatile and valuable piece of equipment for police officers.
Ultrasonic whistles
Police officers that work with dogs as part of their job role may use ultrasonic whistles. Humans can’t hear this type of whistle as the frequency is too high. Only animals, such as dogs, can hear the whistle when blown. For police officers working at night over long distances, an ultrasonic whistle allows them to communicate with their dog without waking people or alerting anyone they’re trying to find. In addition, ultrasonic whistles work better over long distances compared to other whistle types. Police dogs can be trained to perform several different things based on the number of times that the dog handler blows the whistle.
Electronic whistles
Some police officers may use electronic whistles instead of the traditional whistle that is blown to produce the sound. Electronic whistles create a sound when a button is pressed, removing the need for blowing. These may be used by police officers who struggle to blow a whistle or those concerned about the hygiene of traditional whistles. Electronic whistles can create a range of sounds, giving the police officer more versatility when using the whistle. However, this type of whistle needs batteries to function which can cause issues if the batteries run out and there are no backup solutions.
Pealess whistle
Police officers that work in situations where there are likely to be large groups of people may use a pealess whistle. The traditional policemans whistle was loud and could be heard over long distances; however, removing the pea and using an innovative design improved the whistle significantly. Pealess whistles are much louder and more commanding than those that include a pea. They’re also less prone to issues with the pea freezing and the whistle becoming unusable in the winter months. Pealess whistles are very durable and ideal for managing large, noisy crowds of people. Police officers may choose to use pealess whistles when they’re attending a football match or a concert, and they need to direct the crowd into a particular location.
Whistles are an iconic and important piece of equipment used by the police force in the past and to this current day. Although they’re a very simple piece of equipment, they’re still highly effective when a police officer needs to get the attention of a crowd of people, their dog or if they need to alert others to their whereabouts. Other forms of technology have taken over police communications, but whistles are still seen as a vital part of the uniform. Unlike technology, manual whistles can be used even when there is no signal, and the batteries have run out on the radio communication devices. You can even purchase the replica London metropolitan police whistles from pre-1870 and get it engraved with a special message. This would make an excellent gift for any law enforcement enthusiast or someone who has retired from the police force. Find out more about the equipment that police officers carry in the UK.
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