Campaign Launched to Polish Bobbies’ Image

Britain’s biggest police force launched a campaign Friday to polish up the image of the London bobby, pledging a more courteous, friendly approach in fighting crime.

Peter Imbert, commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police, acknowledged criticism that some police officers in the 27,000-member force were rude and unhelpful. But he said they were a small minority.

“What we’re doing now is making a public statement--for all levels of the police service--of our principles that courtesy is in and abrasiveness is out,” he told a news conference.

The move was in response to a survey by a public relations firm, which said a minority of officers were aggressive and “too free with their language” in dealing with the public.