ACAB is an acronym that stands for "All Cops Are Bastards." It is a political slogan historically associated with opposition to the police and has been used as a catchphrase in graffiti, tattoos, and music, especially within punk, skinhead, anarchist, and football hooligan subcultures

. The phrase originated in England in the 1920s as "All Coppers Are Bastards" and was abbreviated to ACAB by striking workers in the 1940s. It gained wider recognition in the 1970s, notably when the British newspaper Daily Mirror used it as a headline. It became a symbol of anti-establishment sentiment, particularly popularized by the 1982 song "A.C.A.B." by the punk band The 4-Skins

. The acronym is sometimes represented numerically as "1312," with each number corresponding to the position of the letters A, C, A, B in the alphabet. This numeric form is often used to circumvent bans or fines on displaying the acronym in certain countries

. While the phrase is controversial and considered offensive by many, proponents argue that it reflects a critique of systemic issues within policing, suggesting that all police officers are complicit in an unjust system, even if not individually involved in misconduct

. In summary, ACAB means "All Cops Are Bastards," a slogan expressing opposition to the police, with deep roots in working-class and countercultural movements dating back nearly a century