Police in Kent have banned undercover officers from using TV cop theme tunes as mobile ringing tones, The Sun reports today.

The move, which prohibits such favourites as The Bill, The Sweeney and The Professionals, is aimed at preventing plod blowing their cover through an ill-timed trill from their blowers.

The Kent old Bill are said to be furious at what they see as "another example of draconian management". Quite right.

The freedom to download an idiotic jingle onto your phone and then irritate everyone around you by having it blasting out at full volume in public places is a fundamental human right. It would be a shame if you got slapped about as a result. ®