Red tape vs yellow tape police

Police tape is probably one of the most recognised types of tape that are used around the world, although the specific coloured used can vary from one country to another.

Police tape is a type of barrier tape which is designed to make the public aware that emergency services are investigating an area, therefore the area should be avoided.

Police tape is also commonly known as do not cross or crime scene tape. Police tape is also used for crowd control. Crossing over police tape can have serious consequences and for this reason it is important to understand why it is used and the protection that it provides to the public. 

What is Police Tape?

Police tape is used to create a barrier and make the public aware that the emergency services are investigating an area, therefore access to the area is prohibited. Police tape is also used for crowd control.

Police tape is brightly coloured and used to catch the attention and warn the public of a hazardous area. The tape that the police use will be standardised and be the same locally however there is no legal guidance on what colour should be used.

Police tape is long and thin material that is used to secure an area where a crime or accident has taken place. This tape is important as it protects a crime scene, as the more people who access the scene the more the volume of evidence will be disturbed, and this could reduce the chance of securing an outcome if the crime goes to court.

The barrier tape is a method of keeping the crime scene protected whilst also keeping the general public safe. The use of police tape is at the discretion of the police officer when they arrive on the scene and various factors will be considered to determine if they need to apply a cordon around the area. 

What Does Police Tape Mean? 

Police tape is a barrier tape that makes the public aware that the emergency services are investigating the area. This long thin tape secures a crime scene and denies access to people who are unauthorised. The aim of using the tape is to prevent contamination to the area which is being investigated. This tape is a standard part of the police kit, and it is carried in all police vehicles. Traditionally in films crime tape is bright yellow however there are other colours that are used depending on what has happened in the area. Police tape tends to be made from plastic that can not be easily torn. 

Why Do Police Tape Off Areas?

In most cases police tape is used to create boundaries around the crime scene to prevent unauthorised access to the site and any potential contamination of the area. It is generally a large area that is taped off by the police when an area needs to be investigated, and this tends to be twice the area that is under investigation.

When you see police tape you should stay outside the cordon either for your own safety or to help the police protect a crime scene. Police tape is used in many different circumstances including to cordon off potentially hazardous areas, as the tape is highly visible and durable regardless of the light levels or weather.

Police tape is easy to use, and it just needs to be fixed to a cone or door handle and then it creates an effective barrier to protect the general public. 

What Does Red Police Tape Mean?

Red police tape is used in an area that has a potential lethal hazard and the tape is used to keep the public at a safe distance. Red tape is used to mark the inner cordon of an area to signify the importance of the crime. Although this tape is called police tape there are many different emergency services who make use of it including the fire service. In areas where red police tape has been used it is not uncommon for the police to require biohazard suits, gloves or specialist police medics or detectives. Red police tape tends to be used in areas where there is a concern for health and safety which is immediate or potentially for high risk. 

What Does Blue Police Tape Mean?

Blue police tape is used as an outer cordon on a crime area or an area that is under investigation. The blue tape is designed to be a clear indication to the general public not to cross the cordon as the area is a crime scene and currently under investigation.

Blue police tape tends to be used on vehicles to alert the public that there is a hazard and that the police are aware of the situation. Blue police tape tends to be used in circumstances where there is a strong need to gather forensic evidence as this colour tends to cause more response with the public in terms of keeping them away from an area.

Although blue police tape is used in serious situations it is also common for it to be used just as a method of keeping the public at a distance as something is deemed to be unsafe for example a wall that might fall. 

What Does Yellow Police Tape Mean?

Yellow police tape is used to create a caution barrier in an area with a potential hazard.  Yellow police tape means that the area is a crime scene and that the police now own the area for an indefinite period of time until their investigations have been completed and a conclusion has been achieved.

Yellow is the commonly used colour in the world of safety therefore yellow tape means that to some degree there is a concern for health and safety, although in some cases this might only be a small risk.

Yellow tape is often used alongside blue, but it is more regularly seen in the USA.