Is the word police a plural or singular noun?

Answer 1

Police is a collective noun for a body of men and women employed to maintain Law and Order. When referring to individual members of the police in the UK, terms such as policeman/woman, police officer, P.C., and constable are commonly used.

Archaically, the term police referred to the system of regulations for the preservation of order and enforcement of the law, and the internal government of a state. From this we have the verb to police, meaning to guard or to put or keep in order. It is perhaps from this archaic definition of the word that those people entrusted with the preservation of law and order became known as police officers.

Sir Robert Peel introduced the modern concept of policing and the first organised police force in Ireland through through The Peace Preservation Act of 1814. A concept that was consolidated in 1822 with the introduction of the The Irish Constabulary Act. In 1829 Peel established the Metropolitan Police Force.

As a result of his association with the police, his officers became known as bobbies, or peelers.Today the term bobby is normally used when referring to a beat officer wearing the traditional helmet, whereas peeler, a term originally in use throughout the UK, nowadays finds usage almost exclusively in Northern Ireland.

Answer 2

The noun police is a group noun and is always plural.

To express a singular individual, you could use policeman, policewoman, or police officer.

To refer to more than one group of police, you would have to use another noun, such as police departments or police agencies.