Uniforms are the most reliable remaining appearance-based identity clues

Evidence

Of somewhat greater reliability are the appearential clues provided by those hangovers from the preindustrial city-uniforms. These are not much worn in the modern city, but where they are they are of immeasurable assistance in making identifications. Most frequently they signal occupation, and since in the industrialized state, occupation is so closely tied to class, they signal the latter as well. … While such a change may very well make policemen more lovable, it also makes them a good deal less identifiable-removing yet another appearential clue from the modern city’s small supply of clues. — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 482

Categorization

• XREF: The ‘humanizing’ police uniform change costing identifiability feeds the reader’s core argument that politeness/softening gestures in public space trade away legibility.