About Us - Police Scotland and Federation Pipe Band

our band

Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band

In 2013, the band entered another phase of its history with a change of name to Glasgow Police.

The pipe band consists of a mix of serving police officers and civilian members. This balance maintains the strong links to the band’s history, as well as allowing the best of civilian piping and drumming talent to realise their ambitions of playing in one of the world’s great bands.

The musical development of the pipe band has continued to flourish. The list of first prizes for the Band is listed here. Of course many other prizes have been won and the Band continue to figure in the top six pretty constantly over the decades.

First formed as Burgh of Govan Police Pipe Band in 1883, The City of Glasow Police in 1912 and Strathclyde Police Pipe Band in 1975, the Band collected the following prizes:

4 times Scottish Pipe Band Champions
12 times British Pipe Band Champions
10 times European Pipe Band Champions
11 times Cowal Highland Gathering Pipe Band Champions
13 times Champion of Champions
21 times RSPBA World Pipe Band Championships

Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band participates in a wide variety of events throughout the year, providing the opportunity to develop the strong bond that exists between Police Scotland and the local community. The pipe band is also in great demand to attend events worldwide and they prove to be excellent ambassadors for Police Scotland.

Police Scotland recognises the important influence and contribution pipe bands have made to their communities, and the musical legacy they leave.

The Pipe Band has the full support of the Police Scotland Chief Constable. Band members are proud to represent the Police Service of Scotland in this way.

The Pipe Band benefits from a close relationship with the Scottish Police Federation. As part of this new formation the Pipe Band will wear the Scottish Police Federation Tartan. A fitting inspiration for the Scottish Police Federation’s 2019 centenary, is the 1790 City of Glasgow tartan. Incorporating the colours of the Federation badge, the background comprises 100 black ‘centenary’ threads in which lies the now universally accepted policing symbol of the ‘Sillito tartan’ – the chequered band introduced in 1932 by Glasgow’s then Chief Constable, Sir Percy Sillito. The blue commemorate the original 1779 police force of eight officers; the yellow symbolises the cultural and gender mix of the modern Force. Band members are drawn from across all areas of the Police Scotland organisation and include police officers, civilian guest players and members of staff.