High Constabulary of the Port of Leith

High Constabulary of the Port of Leith was founded in the late 17th century,[1] to deal with safety in the royal port and behaviour in streets of the port of Leith near Edinburgh, Scotland. It continues to this day as a ceremonial port police organisation.

Known as Leith High Constables, the organisation is now an honorary society, supporting the City of Edinburgh Council and the monarchy.

The Leith High Constables continue in their own society with selected members, convened by a moderator [citation needed] for ceremonial attendance at events, raising charitable donations through annual dinners and other fundraising. There is a specific formal dress code including top-hats, tails, waistcoats and ceremonial batons,[2] and more recently[3] formal dress specified for women High Constables, similar to those of the other High Constables of Scotland, in Edinburgh and in Perth.[4]

The official blazon (coat of arms) of the Leith High Constabulary was not awarded until 2014, by the Court of the Lord Lyon, and includes the coat of arms of Leith itself and the Leith motto 'PERSEVERE'.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Munro, Gordon (2013). "Shining a light on Leith: EICC Conference Call – Summer 2013". conferencecall.eicc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  3. ^ Advertiser, Perthshire (2 October 2018). "Historic group to move with the times". dailyrecord. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Society of the High Constables of the City of Perth". www.highconstablesperth.org. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  5. ^ "High Constabulary of the Port of Leith – Coat of arms (crest) of High Constabulary of the Port of Leith". www.heraldry-wiki.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.