”Bobbyjen” ihannevaltakunta. Suomalaisen poliisin käsityksiä Britannian virkaveljistä maailmansotien välillä

Authors

• Vesa Vares Turun yliopisto

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37449/ennenjanyt.148837

Keywords:

Police, History, England, Finland

Abstract

This article looks into the image which the Finnish police entertained about the British colleagues between the World Wars: the tasks, position, success and influence of these in the British society. The article uses the Finnish policemen’s professional periodicals as its source. The British policeman was often considered as a worthy role model by his Finnish colleagues. He was considered efficient, functional and to have practical common sense, and his popularity among the public and his material circumstances exceeded those of the Finnish policemen. There was seen some fascinating exoticism in the British traditions and manners as well. Britain was considered to be one of the frontrunners also in advancing the cause of women in the police forces, and it even gave an example of trade union movement among the policemen. The popularity of the “bobbies” among the public was admired and even idealized, and so was the professional might of Scotland Yard. However, at the end of the day Britain was far from Finland, and direct influence and direct contacts remained scarce. Germany and Scandinavia were more familiar to the Finnish police in day-to-day professional practices.