Today in worldbuilding, we're going to talk about the uniforms of the Watch Constabulary, the Empire's policing service¹.
Now, to be clear, this doesn't include the Office of Investigation and Pursuit (who aren't part of the Constabulary, strictly speaking), who wear regular Service grays.
Within the Constabulary, the same applies to the Constabular Support Services (on-call specialists). Meanwhile, the Disaster Instant Response Teams usually only wear the regular full-dress uniform on formal occasions, since they have specialized outfits for their duties.
Rather, we're talking specifically about the Patrol services, which include the City Watch (urban areas), the Prefectural Constabulary (rural regions), the Sea Watch (maritime policing and rescue), the Imperial Rangers (marches and wilderness), the Orbit Guard (orbital space), and the Stellar Guard (deep space).
There are certain differences in field dress among these groups - obviously, the Sea Watch has some uniform differences based on what works well in the middle of the ocean in a storm, and the Orbit Guard and Stellar Guard often leave their coats off (when not boarding) due to working inside nice climate-controlled starships, and spend a lot of time in vacuum suits. Less obviously, Rangers, who patrol the wilderness, are permitted to exchange their coats for ones in teal, pale brown, or white to stand out less to the wildlife, but return to standard Service reds when engaged in, for example, search and rescue operations.
So, on what principles are Constabulary uniforms designed? The two primaries are visibility and distinctiveness and non-militarism, followed shortly by protection. The reason for this last is obvious. As for the primaries, the Constabulary considers it very important that anyone in need of assistance from a Constable be able to find one quickly. As such, their uniforms should make them readily visible in a crowd, and should be readily distinguished from private security, military personnel, other Servicemen, or anyone else dressed in a professional uniform.
Their uniform should also be readily distinguishable, even in type, from military uniforms. The Watch Constabulary is not a military service, nor is it a paramilitary service, and in order to continue its mission of serving the public safety and harmony, it is vital that it never come to be perceived as one.
As such, the Watch Constabulary uniform consists of navy-blue trousers worn with a full-sleeve white shirt and waistcoat (with hidden pockets), all made from arachnoweave protective fabric. White gloves are also worn. Accompanying this are brown leather boots and a wide belt with Sam Browne belt accompanying it. This belt supports a constabulary-pattern saber (with quick-release scabbard²) and the constable's sidearm³.
Atop this, the constable wears a buff coat (a padded trench coat⁴ in heavy wool or leather, with an arachnoweave lining) in bright constabular scarlet for maximum visibility against most backgrounds. This coat is double-breasted for additional protection when closed⁵, although it is worn open under most circumstances to present a friendlier appearance.
Completing the uniform is a scarlet-plumed, broad-brimmed hat with the brim turned up on the left and pinned by the brass Constabulary badge, a pair of mastiffs upholding an Imperial Star.
Grade insignia are worn on the left breast as rank knots, as is traditional for Service uniforms, in silver for sub-inspector grades and in gold for higher ones, and additionally as aiguilletes from the left shoulder of the coat. Ribbons and knots for awards are worn on the right.
As with the non-military Service uniform, outside formal occasions, men may wear neckties and women cravats/neckerchiefs with the uniform, of their own choice. This practice is encouraged during routine patrols, etc., again to present a friendlier appearance.
- You may note at this point that I specifically didn't say "law enforcement", because calling them that promotes incorrect attitudes, which any constable would point out. While they are expected to show impartial fidelity to the Contract, the Charter, and the law in that order, their function is to preserve the Imperial peace and serve the public safety and harmony, as it is incumbent upon every citizen-shareholder to do, only full-time - not to enforce "unequal laws unto a savage race".
- Insofar as the scabbard is designed so that while it remains attached when the saber is drawn in the normal fashion, it can be detached from the belt easily with a sideways pull. While Constabulary policy discourages nightstick-justice, it does not go so far as to eliminate a convenient tool for it.
- This is typically the WC-11 Pacifier, a combination weapon that includes an electrolaser stunner with underslung mass driver, capable of launching both tangler capsules and sniffer-perfume globs as well as standard ammunition.
- A duster-styled variant is available for skimmer-mounted constables.
- It is to be noted that the Constabulary, with the sole exception of dedicated tactical teams, does not make it a habit of wearing body armor, relying solely on armored fabric which can be worn discreetly, as clothing. Should you escalate the situation to the point at which body armor is required, they will cheerfully step aside and let the people who do habitually wear combat armor take over, and you will almost certainly regret escalating the situation to that point. Which is rather the point, is it not?
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://eldraeverse.com/2025/09/13/excuse-me-constable