I get that pomp and circumstance is important for Brits to not become depressed, but doesn’t it become meaningless if a normal cop with his bullet proof vest and radios and cargo pants, is standing right next to your ceremonial cop who’s supposed to represent eternal tradition?
Crushing proles with the actual army always looks worse than sending in pigs instead, thats probably part of it.
Anyway i was always told that cops with these big boy guns only existed in authoritarian societies, so this is probably fine, right?