What is it about being near a policeman/woman that makes you feel incredibly guilty?

I just walked behind two community support officers on my way to the shops. As I was walking, I couldn’t take my eyes off the guy’s handcuffs and kept thinking to myself that I should never have left the chopped up body parts in my handbag - what if they turned round and searched it?

Of course, I don’t have a dead body in my handbag, and I don’t have illegal weapons in my house, but I might as well have done, for the guilt I was feeling. Something about that kind of authority and power that makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong, even when the reality is I’m squeaky clean.

On the plus side, when we all crossed the road, cars stopped to let them pass, and I got across with them. There are benefits to that uniform then.