why are policemen sometimes called 'coppers' ?

Answer 1

Some argue that the term cop is shortened from "copper" and derives from the tin or copper badges worn by a policeman. Others say cop is an abbreviation for constabulary of police.

General consensus on the word origins of cop however suggest that the term is based more on the policeman’s job than on his clothing or job title. In Latin the verb capere can be defined as “to capture.” In French, the verb is caper. “To cop” in English is to seize or to take. This defines some of what a police officer does. He or she seizes or takes crooks or stops their crime “capers.”

Answer 2

Coppers, or Cops, comes from the copper buttons on early English police uniforms. The "modern" English police were organized, or founded, by Sir Robert Peel in the 19th century. This is where English policemen also got the nickname Bobbys. The copper buttons of course being distinct and of course recognizable to the criminal elements of the time.

Answer 3

There are a few different stories about cop, but most of them are rather dubious. One suggests that cop stood for "Constable On Patrol," but there isn't much evidence for this. Another story says that it comes from the copper badges that the first New York police sergeants carried, but almost as common is the story that cop originally referred to the copper buttons on the uniforms of the first police force in London. Students of Urban Legend stories may well recognize this pattern as indicative of a questionable origin.
The word copper could come from the French word "caper," meaning to seize or take. French Norman influences on the English language could account for this. Tracing the language back to it's Latin roots, we find capere meaning to seize or take, which is also the root for capture. The dictionary also suggests a few alternate meanings for cop which seems to reinforce this idea - to catch or capture; take away. Since several other languages use similar words derived from the Latin root word, this seems to be the most likely explanation. Therefor a cop, i.e. a copper, is one who catches a criminal.
The suggested origin for "bobby" is also in question, but the most commonly advance account is that the name comes from Sir Robert Peel, a British Tory politician of the early 1800s. While Home Secretary he reorganized the existing police force, the Bow Street Runners, into a more efficient service. Supposedly, they were originally labeled with the epithet "Peelers," but for unknown reasons "bobby" came to be the nickname of preference. Possibly because the name had been used for the Irish constabulary that he had founded earlier when he was Secretary for Ireland.
Another story with some historical weight says that bobby comes from 19th century London street slang. Victorian writer John Hotten wrote in the Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words: "The official square-keeper, who is always armed with a cane to drive away idle and disorderly urchins, has, time out of mind, been called by said urchins Bobby the Beadle. Bobby is also an old English word for striking, or hitting, a quality not unknown to policemen."

Answer 4

Coppers - because of the fact they used to hold a copper badge, or because of the fact they 'cop' human beings, and previous term for capture or grab carry. Bobby, after Sir Robert Peel, who based the police rigidity And Pig is purely an insult!

Answer 5

Partially from the use of the phrase Constable Of the Peace or "COP" for short. High Sierra (1941) is arguably the first great Bogie picture, and though the picture manifests a bit of melodramatic cheesiness, it still rocks. In it, Bogie plays ‘Mad Dog’ Earle, a baddie who gets broken out of prison only to be drawn into another bad scene. He gets involved with a botched robbery and is forced to flee to the Sierras and try to outthink the dirty coppers (ingeniune policemen) who want to bring him down.

Answer 6

Because policemen are called cops and "coppers" is just a taunting term for cops

Answer 7

I'd go with the copper button theory.

Answer 8

Because they 'Cop' the bad guys - Cop .. to catch.

Answer 9

cause of the buttons they used to have back in the day!!

Answer 10

Because they always try copping out of the wrongs that they do.