Q. I was recently stopped for speeding by a policeman.
After we had got to the stage where he took down my full name he started to address me by my Christian name. In this new spirit of intimacy, how should I address him in return, bearing in mind he has not revealed his own name? Is there a general appellation such as 'Phil' (as in filth) or, if it is a woman, ‘Ros' (as in Rozzer)? Please advise.
R.B., Borough Green, Kent A. I am pleased to announce that this has not become standard police practice and was in fact a breach of etiquette by the young constable. If he were planning to let you off with a caution, then it would have been a Pyrrhic victory for you to have put him in his place. If on the other hand, he involved you in a punitive measure, you could have punished him by calling him 'Inspector', which would have forced him to correct you and reveal his true rank to be constable.
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