Beret

A beret (UK: {{IPA|}}, US: {{IPA|}}; IPA) is a soft round cap with a flat crown which is worn by both men and women. The cap fits snugly around the head, and the soft crown can be shaped in a variety of ways – it is commonly pushed to one side. Berets were originally worn by Northern Basque peasants and were knitted from wool. Today berets are normally made from wool felt.

Berets in other organizations

Singapore

Black berets were worn by all members of the Singapore Police Force until 1969, when the peaked cap was introduced. The beret was, however, retained for specialist forces, such as officers of the Special Operations Command (SOC) and the Police Coast Guard, as well as the Gurkha Contingent. A dark blue beret is worn, although the Police Tactical Unit of the SOC switched to red berets in 2005.

Related Topics:
Singapore Police Force - 1969 - Peaked cap - Special Operations Command - Police Coast Guard - Gurkha Contingent - Police Tactical Unit - 2005

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Auxiliary police officers of CISCO Security Private Limited don dark blue berets when performing escort and other high-risk duties, as do specialist forces of the Singapore Prison Service. In addition, student cadets of uniformed youth organizations such as the National Police Cadet Corps and the National Cadet Corps also wear berets of different colours.

Related Topics:
Auxiliary police - CISCO Security Private Limited - Singapore Prison Service - Youth organization - National Police Cadet Corps - National Cadet Corps

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Spain and the Basque Country

The beret, boina in Spanish or txapela in Basque, was introduced into Spain during the First Carlist War.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Basque - First Carlist War

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Carlists wore red berets (txapelgorri in Basque, which later also came to mean "Carlist soldier") and Isabellines white ones.

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The red beret became a Falange symbol when Carlism was merged into it after the Spanish Civil War.

Related Topics:
Falange - Spanish Civil War

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Today the Basque police force, Ertzaintza, wears red berets.

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United Kingdom

SO19, the armed response unit of the London Metropolitan Police, used to wear dark blue berets, and were nicknamed the 'Blue Berets'. Today, they generally wear baseball caps. British Scouts wore green berets.

Related Topics:
SO19 - London - Metropolitan Police - Scouts

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Hong Kong

The beret is the standard headgear of officers of the Police Tactical Unit of the Hong Kong Police Force. Officers are nicknamed the "Blue Berets" or the "Blue Caps". Scouts wear green berets. Staff of some security companies, such as Securicor, also wear berets.

Related Topics:
Police Tactical Unit - Hong Kong Police Force - Securicor

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