Pop Culture

 The Royal Bahamas Police in the Popular Culture of The Bahamas

The Royal Bahamas Police Force is a cherished part of the national identity and popular culture of The Bahamas. From the time of its inception in 1840 the Bahamas Police has enjoyed the respect of the community. Over the years this admiration has grown and  it even goes beyond our shores. The Royal Bahamas Police Force is among the most respected police organisations in the Caribbean region and holds its head high in other international arenas. The famed Bahamas police band has performed several times around the world entrenching the Bahamian police officer as a recognised symbol of The Bahamas in much the same way as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is a symbol of Canada or the British "bobby" is of London. The uniformed Bahamian police officer is "The Bahamas" in many a person's eye.

The officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force throughout the country, and also in Bimini, are heirs to this legacy of respect, admiration and esteem. At home and abroad this is true. Recently, for three consecutive years, the International Association of Chiefs of Police has awarded the Royal Bahamas Police Force its highest honours for its community policing and urban renewal initiatives and programmes.

As the Royal Bahamas Police Force is an object of pride, admiration and respect in the eyes of Bahamians and visitors and also because of public interest in the police service, it has become an iconic part of this country's  culture and identity. 

 



The image of the Bahamian police officer has been used for many years to promote the country abroad. Countless souvenir items, t-shirts, tea towels, advertisements and pieces of fine art have made the image of the Bahamas police officer a national symbol or icon. The Bahamian police officer in his crisp white tunic and pith helmet is a major tourist attraction and officers are constantly being asked for their photograph. People are often quick to purchase police-image souvenirs, art work and post cards.

Major advertising campaigns for The Bahamas have used the Royal Bahamas Police as a central theme.




The Royal Bahamas Police Force band plays throughout The Bahamas and has performed
around the world.




1963 recording of the Bahamas police Band

The century old police band has performed throughout the world and continues to
be a popular attraction throughout the islands and whereever it performs. The band has produced several albums and CDs.









Late 1960s advertisement for the New Bahama Star cruiseliner with a Bahamian police officer




An advertisement for the SS Yarmouth, an American cruise ship, in the early 1960s  featuring the iconic Bahamas police officer. This ship, later named the Yarmouth Castle, would catch fire sixty miles north west of Nassau in 1965 and sink killing over 90 passengers and crew. The tragedy forced major changes in laws affecting safety at sea.



The Nassau Beach Hotel used the iconic police image to help promote its property.

Popular post cards from 1970.








1960s image

The Royal Bahamas Police Band is featured on the Bahamas $1.00 note.

The famous police band is featured on the Bahamas Telecommunications Company's pre-paid telephone calling card.

OBJECTS OF ART AND HIGHLY PRIZED COLLECTABLES

The William Britains Company of the United Kingdom has long been famous for its toy soldiers cast in lead and painted by hand. The company has made countless toy soldiers and today they are highly sought after collector's items. While the Britains firm made toy-cast British soldiers such as the Royal Marines and Grenadier Guards, they also produced, in the 1950s, a limited set of the Bahamas Police Band in marching formation.  These extremely rare pieces sell today for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in the international collectables market.

The Britains Company "Bahamas Police Band"

These "lead-cast police officers" were produced in a very limited quantity in the 1950s and today are worth hundreds and often thousands of dollars and frequently seen at auctions and on eBay.com

 If these lead cast Bahamas police officers appealed to a high-end expensive taste, there were and remain countless other items that use the image of the Bahamas police officer to promote The Bahamas including these less expensive items.

A silly nic-nac souvenir depiciting a Bahamian policeman 

Salt and Pepper shakers in the form of Bahamian police officers.

 

Several types of charms have been produced as jewellery

Many collectors look to antique shops or eBay.com to locate Bahamian police souvenirs. Very few other world police services can be found on eBay.com or in antique shops with items of interest for collectors. Canada's RCMP and the Bahamas RBPF are by far the leaders in police collectables which is another indication that the Bahamas' police service is clearly rooted in the popular culture of The Bahamas

ARTISTS ALSO USE THE ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE AS A SUBJECT

A Christmas card image

As seen above, several Bahamian artists have used the Royal Bahamas Police as a subject for their work.

The Royal Bahamas Police, a strong presence  in our popular culture.....

A cherished, honoured, respected and the most recognisable symbol of
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.