"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"
The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really existed), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts. |
- "...Muggle neighbours heard bangs and shouting, so they called those what-d'you-call-'ems — please-men. Arthur, you've got to get over there —"
- — Amos Diggory delivering Arthur Weasley an urgent message about Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody[src]
Police officers (also called policemen) are Muggle law-keepers empowered to enforce the local laws of the non-magical world.
History[]
- "Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers ("policemen") over a number of highly aggressive dustbins."
- — Rita Skeeter, FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC, the Daily Prophet
Three years before the birth of Harry Potter,[1] two policemen named PC Anderson and Sergeant Fisher chased two young boys on a motorbike. They caught the boys in a dead-end alley and asked for their names. The two boys first gave three random names: Wilberforce, Bathsheba and Elvendork. But soon after, they identified themselves as James Potter and Sirius Black. The two policemen saw three men flying on broomsticks, and were shocked to see the young boys using some sticks to lift up their police car to fend off the men.
In the summer of 1943, the Muggle Frank Bryce was taken to a police station for questioning following the deaths of Thomas Riddle, Mary Riddle and Tom Riddle Snr. The police suspected Frank because there were no signs of forced entry and he was the only one with a key. Frank's only defence was that he saw a pale, dark-haired teenage boy near the house around the time of the murders but this was dismissed as a fabrication. However, the police were eventually forced to let him go after an autopsy report on the Riddles revealed no obvious cause of death. Though he was released without charge, the experience left him deeply mistrustful of police from that point forward. Despite this mistrust, he resolved to call the police upon hearing Lord Voldemort and Peter Pettigrew plotting the capture and murder of Harry Potter. Before he could, however, his presence was discovered by Nagini and reported to Voldemort.
A police officer was amongst the victims of Peter Pettigrew in his attack on 1 November 1981 that was blamed on a gas explosion.[2]
On 1 September 1992, Mr Angus Fleet of Peebles reported his sighting of the Flying Ford Anglia to the police.[3]
On either 31 August or 1 September 1994, Alastor Moody's Muggle neighbours called policemen to report a disturbance when his dustbins were set off by Bartemius Crouch Jnr. This incident was later reported by Rita Skeeter in an article in the Daily Prophet.
In 1995, Harry Potter silently wished for someone, such as the police, to come as a Death Eater screamed while being tortured via the Cruciatus Curse by Voldemort.
Later that year, during the summer holidays, Aunt Petunia screamed for Vernon to call the police after Dudley Dursley arrived home following being attacked by Dementors and she feared that he may have been mugged. The call was never made, however, as Dudley struggled to speak, indicating Harry Potter, and the Dursleys then interrogated Harry regarding the matter.[4]
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First mentioned)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter Prequel (First appearance)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Appears in photographs)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ "Waterstones Charity Auction" on J. K. Rowling's official site (archived via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine here)
- ↑ LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 5 (The Whomping Willow)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 2 (A Peck of Owls)