Why are Police Stations called police STATIONS? Why not police Centres or something else of your suggestion..?

woznotwoz

I believe the term comes from the railway police (modern day BTP). In the early days of railways, the railway police were also responsible for signalling and time keeping. One railway company had police boxes/huts at regular intervals along the line and these became known as police stations.

Also the saying "If you want to know the time ask a policeman" also comes from the railway police. At a time when time pieces were very rare and expensive, one railway company issued all their officers with watches, and so hence this saying.

Valley R

I like Police Station. The officers are 'stationed' at a certain precinct. I think it has worked very well for the past 2007 years.

Grannyjill

Station, I would imagine, means a stopping place but it also has the meaning - base. So some-one can be stationed somewhere, even the police.

ãƒ„â™¥| ÑÑÎ³oÐ¯ |

That's a good point. Maybe because police are 'stationed' in there...:S i dunno.

Odd Man Out

That is where the police force are stationed

Dead Spider

Yes, the thought often keeps me awake at night.

CLIVE H

Here's some info on the origins of the word station - which just means to stand really.

station

â€¢ noun 1 a place where passenger trains stop on a railway line, typically with platforms and buildings. 2 a place where a specified activity or service is based: a radar station. 3 a broadcasting company of a specified kind. 4 the place where someone or something stands or is placed for a particular purpose or duty. 5 oneâ€™s social rank or position. 6 Austral./NZ a large sheep or cattle farm.

â€¢ verb assign to a station.

â€” ORIGIN Latin, from stare â€˜to standâ€™

In Oz for example, the word station is used to describe such as a SHEEP STATION. In the Falkland Islands we used to have WHALING STATIONS.

FIRE STATION
POLICE STATION
SHEEP STATION
RAILWAY STATION
etc...

Of course I appreciate that none of the above explains why we use the word STATION for where the police have their offices instead of Police Centre, etc.

Cosimo â™¥ à¤®à¤°à¥€à¤¯

You wait ... when they finally get round to privatising the police, they'll be called "Public law and order delivery stake-holder operational partnerships" - and someone will turn it into an acronym :)

RobisaLone

A call centre would be better, you never know who your talking to.

mischievous

Because in the days before wireless communications the duty police officers were stationed at their HQ, called a Police Station.

dude_a_licious

as several people have already mentioned that is where they are "stationed". Since there are mobile units (police cars, bicycle police, motorcycles etc.) there needs to be one one centeralized station to check in and so on. plus it's (as other people have said) a military type term thats been used for a long time and people dont change the names of things quite often so... thats my opinion.

Big Dog

How about departments? Police Department, Sheriff's Department?

Although police station is fine. But never sheriff's station, just doesn't work. Sheriff's office, perhaps.

nolongerhere

A popular name seems to be Cop Shop

jonant

Why not? Why should we change everything, let's be happy with police, fire and train stations and so on.

Huge

They are called Police Stations because that is where the Police are stationed. Its a military term that relates to the location of a force of military personnel. When the Police Force was set up it was done on military lines;hence the ranks of Sergeant etc.

sallybowles

Because the police officers are STATIONED there. Duh!

Veronica M

That is a difficult question to answer.....