I think the Thin Blue Line became a thing during the miners' dispute 1984-5. I think the press were suggesting the police were protecting the rest of society from the starving miners. I was there but all the action was at places other than where I was. We "southern forces" were mostly seen as the good guys whereas the Met were, and always have been, cunts whenever they're off the leash.
I've always thought the safest course of action was to assume that they were just the largest and most heavily armed criminal gang in London, and act accordingly.
I think the Thin Blue Line became a thing during the miners' dispute 1984-5. I think the press were suggesting the police were protecting the rest of society from the starving miners. I was there but all the action was at places other than where I was. We "southern forces" were mostly seen as the good guys whereas the Met were, and always have been, cunts whenever they're off the leash.