Civvy police are buying certain items of their own uniform in some forces now.
With regard to the civvie Scuffers, I learned today that they have access to some VERY good mortgage rates (approx 2%) through some Police Federation-type scheme, and also their pay is approaching parity with ours. One of my wife's relatives is a 23-yr old PC on a salary approaching mine as a 30ish Flt Lt.
As he does a very worthwhile job involving machine guns I don't mind that much.
But for all the other fed to$$ers pointing speed cameras at congested A-roads and long, straight B-roads..... why should they get any special privileges?