Dreaming of the police
Meaning and interpretation
What does dreaming of the police mean?
Dreaming of the police often points to rules, judgment and guilt: a sense of having done something wrong, or fear of being caught out. The police can also stand for protection and order. Whether you were arrested, chased or rescued, the dream tells a different story.
What it's often linked to
Guilt. A real or imagined fault, fear of being found out.
Rules. The framework imposed on you, or the one you impose on yourself.
Protection. The need to be defended against a threat.
Depending on what happens in the dream
Being arrested
Fear of being judged or punished, often for something minor.
Running from the police
You're avoiding a responsibility or a consequence.
Calling the police
A need for help, the wish for someone to restore order.
Being a police officer
A role as rule-keeper, maybe too strict with yourself or others.
A police check
A feeling of being evaluated, watched, at work or elsewhere.
Questions to ask yourself when you wake up
A dream's meaning lives in your own context, not in a dictionary. These three questions get you there faster.
- 1
Do you feel guilty about something right now?
- 2
Are you too hard on yourself about certain rules?
- 3
In the dream, were the police threatening or protecting you?
A dream predicts nothing and diagnoses nothing. If a distressing dream keeps coming back and weighs on your days, talk to a health professional.
