On 16 Oct, 00:06, "Michael R N Dolbear" wrote:
wrote







On 15 Oct, 01:56, "Michael R N Dolbear" wrote:
wrote
. There is no such thing in the UK police service as a superior
officer, {...}
The law refered to is S 178 Licensing Act 1964
... except by authority of a superior officer of that constable.
==
There are things a police "superior officer" can't order, but "go
and
get a bite to eat" isn't one of them.
The Police have senior officers, not superior officers. It is a
standard convention that every police officer starts at the same
rank,
unlike for example the armed services. it's one of the first things
taught at basic training. The rank structure,the badges of rank and
that nobody in the police service is superior to anybody else, they
may be senior in rank or experience, never superior. That is why a
suitably qualified PC can be in effective command of a situation
where
the superintendent stood next to him does not have the requisite
training or experience but is on hand to take over when practicable.

That could and does happen in the armed forces too but they
nevertheless have "superior officers". If someone is an officer and is
superior in rank then they are a "superior officer".

Do pay attention, I quoted the text of statute law above, your
assertion, like "never off-duty", implies the law is meaningless.

Judges have held otherwise.

--
Mike D

Other such texts use the term Senior Officer, for example the 1986
POA.