Junior Murvin’s ‘Police & Thieves’ Certified Silver In The UK

Junior Murvin’s reggae classic Police & Thieves achieved Silver certification in the United Kingdom on January 31, marking 200,000 units recorded in the country.

Originally recorded with legendary producer Lee “Scratch” Perry in 1976 at his Black Ark Studio, Police & Thieves later appeared on an Island Records album of the same name in 1977. The track, featuring an all-star lineup of reggae musicians—including Boris Gardiner on bass, Sly Dunbar on drums, and Ernest Ranglin on guitar—quickly became an anthem for social unrest as it addressed gang violence and police brutality.

It became an instant hit in Jamaica and was an even greater success in the UK, where it was embraced by both black and white communities as tensions between law enforcement and the Afro-Caribbean population reached a boiling point. Police & Thieves became the unofficial soundtrack of the 1976 Notting Hill Carnival, which ended in violent clashes between carnival-goers and police.

“It was the big song of the festival. The star tune,” Murvin told United Reggae in a 2011 interview.

“The message is still relevant. I never knew it would be relevant now. I never knew about that. I just sang songs and then it coincided. I was young at that time but there came this great musical vibes in my head where I can’t really tell you what was going on! Natural.”

The song gained further recognition when British punk band The Clash covered it on their April 1977 debut album. While their raw, six-minute rendition introduced Reggae to a new audience, Murvin and Perry initially criticized the cover, with Murvin reportedly declaring, “They have destroyed Jah work!” Despite this, Perry later collaborated with The Clash, producing their single Complete Control.

Bob Marley, inspired by The Clash’s version, wrote Punky Reggae Party in July 1977.

In 1980, Murvin’s Police & Thieves reached No. 23 on the UK Singles chart.

Since then it has been re-recorded several times, with versions produced by Prince Jammy, Ralston Brown, and even a collaboration with U-Roy.

The song’s impact extended to film and pop culture, appearing in movies like Rockers (1978), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), After The Sunset (2004), Knocked Up (2007), and 21 Jump Street (2012).

Junior Murvin later scored hits with Cool Out Son (1979), Bad Man Posse (1982), and Muggers in the Street (1984), though none achieved the crossover success of his breakthrough track.

He passed away in 2013 at age 67.