Permissions for badges
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.030972
I note you seek access to the following information:
Please can you provide any/all documentation that confirms the MPS has permission to use a Crown badge
(Please ignore the background, the flag shown is not in question and this is not related to it).
The image shown clearly depicts a crown as protected in law under Section 99, Trademarks Act 1994 and one that requires permission of the Lord Chamberlain’s office.
1. When did the MPS obtain permission to use that crown badge?
2. Please provide all correspondence relating to the use/display/design and permissions to do so.
3. If no documentation exists please confirm this will be considered a breach of the Trademarks Acf 1994 and provide a copy of the referral to the Directorate of Professional Standards.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Firstly we can confirm that the Metropolitan Police Service is not infringing on any trademark by using the Crown on their badge.
The crown in question is St Edward’s Crown, specifically chosen by Elizabeth II to be the heraldic representation of her authority. After her accession, she mandated its use and the replacement of the former “Tudor” Crown. This affected all crown servants and organisations – not just the Met/police – including, amongst others: the Royal Mail, the Armed Forces, HM Government, and other emergency services (Ambulance Trusts, HM Coastguard).
To add further context to the above, since 1864 the Met has variously used “Victorian” and Tudor Crowns, each at the direction of the monarch, and is set to return to using the Tudor Crown following a decision by King Charles III (https://www.royal.uk/his-majesty-kings-cypher). This an expected part of the rebranding at the beginning of each monarch’s reign. There are books in the Police Museum Library that can provide further information on the use of crowns by the MPS. You can arrange to view these by contacting the Museum directly at [email protected].