Why are Policemen called Coppers, Pigs and Bobby's?

Answer 1

They're called Bobbys after Robert Peel who started the police force.

Best I can do on the other two is copy from Wikipedia

Cop or Copper: While commonly believed to be an acronym for Constable On Patrol, the term refers to "one who captures or snatches". This word first appeared in the early 18th century, and can be matched with the word "cap", which has the same meaning and whose etymology can be traced to the Latin word 'capere'. (The word retains this meaning in other contexts: teenagers "cop a feel" on a date, and they have also been known to "cop an attitude".) Variation: Copper. It is also believed that the term Copper was the original, unshortened word, popularly believed to represent the copper badges American officers used to wear at the time of origin, but in fact probably used in Britain to mean "someone who cops" long before this.

Pigs: This term was widespread during the 19th century, disappeared for a while, but reappeared during the 20th century. It became especially popular during the 1960s and 1970s in the underground hippie and anti-establishment culture. It has also been used in anti-authoritarian punk and gangsta rap circles. Oz magazine showed a picture of a pig dressed as a policeman on a front cover. [1]

Answer 2

Sir Robert Peel Bobbies

Answer 3

Coppers - because they used to carry a copper badge, or because they 'cop' people, and old term for catch or grab hold.

Bobby, after Sir Robert Peel, who founded the police force

And Pig is just an insult!

Answer 4

Don't know about the first two (though pigs is probably along the same lines as filth, just a derogatory name.) but Bobbies comes from Robert Peel who founded the first police force in the UK (Another variation is Peelers)

Answer 5

Coppers, shortened to cops, because of the metal of their badges at one time, bobbies (and peelers) because of Sir Robert Peel, who founded the London police force in 1829, and pigs simply as a derogatory name by leftists in the 1960s.

Answer 6

The term "PIG" for cops is going back to the 1800's. i'm particular you could look it up yet a team of London Bobbies referred to as themselves the Townsworth Pigs or something like that.

Answer 7

Coppers from the copper colored buttons on their uniforms in olden days

Bobby from Sir Robert Peel, first commissioner of Scotland Yard (they are also called peelers) and it is from him that we get the expression "Bob's your uncle" meaning its a if the police commissioner were related to you - you have no problems.

Don't know where pigs comes from.

Answer 8

Copper - Cop = Constable of Police

Answer 9

I don't know but it's rude and derogatory and people that call them that should know better and be more respectful.

Answer 10

hands up to that,i think its a liverpool thing.could be wrong,its just slang names i think,