9 Pints of the Law

By Boris (Jan Szymczuk)

Nine officers. One horse. One dog. Nine pints.

At first glance, this appears to be a quiet gathering of Metropolitan Police officers enjoying a well-earned drink outside a country pub. Look a little closer and you’ll discover that things are not quite as straightforward as they seem.

Representing a cross-section of policing from the 1980s and 1990s, the line-up includes Mounted Branch, Dog Section, Traffic, Firearms, SPG, uniform officers and a plain clothes detective. Meanwhile, hidden away in an upstairs window, a Surveillance Officer is hard at work photographing the entire gathering, no doubt compiling evidence for future disciplinary proceedings.

Every character is accompanied by the tools of their trade. Some are obvious. Others are tucked away waiting to be discovered. The horse appears more interested in its pint than police procedure, the dog is maintaining professional standards, and nobody seems particularly concerned that one of their colleagues is secretly documenting the event.

Packed with humour, nostalgia and countless references that serving and retired officers will instantly recognise, 9 Pints of the Law is a tribute to the friendships, banter and organised chaos that defined policing before smartphones, body-worn cameras and endless online training packages.

The longer you look, the more details you will find.

And if you’re a former officer, chances are you’ll recognise at least one of these characters. If you’re unlucky, it might be you.

Warning: May cause uncontrollable reminiscing, exaggerated war stories, and repeated use of the phrase, “It was different in my day.”

A perfect gift for serving officers, retired officers, police families, and anyone who appreciates British policing, good humour, and the occasional well-earned pint. 🍺🚓🐎🐕📸

“Every picture tells a story. This one probably requires a written statement and a supervisor’s signature.” 😄