A Conversation for Ask h2g2
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
echomikeromeo Started conversation Jul 6, 2009
As an American, British news often flies under my radar. And so I've just noticed in the past few days that the Guardian (which I read most days) refers to sundry UK government regulatory agencies with abbreviations beginning in "Of-" (Ofcom, Ofstet, etc.) which, I presume, stands for "Office of." But what's with this? Have these agencies always been referred to with these acronyms? And why did they settle on acronyms that sound this disconcertingly Orwellian?
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Icy North Posted Jul 6, 2009
Yes, it's short for Office. I'm trying to think of the first one to be set up - probably in the 1980s when Thatcher was selling off the family silver (denationalising everything). We had Offer (Electricity Regulation) and Ofgas (Gas) - now merged, I believe.
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Edward the Bonobo - Gone. Posted Jul 6, 2009
The one responsible for electronic surveillance is OfBugger.
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Icy North Posted Jul 6, 2009
Oftel (Telecomms) was the first - 1982, I think.
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Smokehammer Posted Jul 6, 2009
Prostitution is to be legalised and regulated by Off**k.
Karaoke bars are regulated by Ofkey.
Regulation of showings of Judy Garland movies is the responsibility of Oftoseethewizard.
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
IctoanAWEWawi Posted Jul 6, 2009
students - ofscruff
altmed - ofquack
republicans - ofwiththeirheads
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Br Robyn Hoode - Navo - complete with theme tune Posted Jul 6, 2009
Food standards: isitof?
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Edward the Bonobo - Gone. Posted Jul 6, 2009
Bring Me The Head Off Alfedo Garcia
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Christopher Posted Jul 6, 2009
On three threads!
You are Dr. Graham Garden AICMFP.
The Butchery regulator - Ofcut
Climate change ombudsmen - Ofset
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Alfster Posted Jul 6, 2009
The new MP expenses regulator is to be called: Oftoss...because they are a bunch...
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
turvy (Fetch me my trousers Geoffrey...) Posted Jul 6, 2009
dn the new Premiership regulator...Offside.
t.
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
turvy (Fetch me my trousers Geoffrey...) Posted Jul 6, 2009
That would be 'And' at the beginning of that last post.
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
swl Posted Jul 6, 2009
The new Alcohol Nannying Board - OfPiste
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
2legs - Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side... Posted Jul 6, 2009
I think the first one set up was actually in the 70's, to officiate over decimalisation. yes, 'Often'. 
then there was before that the regulator in charge of frozen water, Ofice. 
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Not-so-bald-eagle Posted Jul 6, 2009
what about the organisation for jobseekers
ofwork
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Mrs Zen Posted Jul 6, 2009
No, Often is the one that has just been proposed by Norman Clegg, er, Nick Clegg, to supervise the prime minister and the cabinet.
Offal is the one set up for the meat packing and butchery trades.
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
2legs - Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side... Posted Jul 6, 2009
Then there is the one set up to regulate American fiction; ofmiceandmen
I'm not sure what oflicence regulates....
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Alfster Posted Jul 6, 2009
Office for stupid/irrelevant/nanny-state/big brother/ill-thoughtout regulations:-
oferf**ksake!
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
Mrs Zen Posted Jul 6, 2009
Offler - regulates the keeping of ampbibians
Key: Complain about this post
What's with all these regulatory agencies abbreviated "Of-"?
- 1: echomikeromeo (Jul 6, 2009)
- 2: Icy North (Jul 6, 2009)
- 3: Edward the Bonobo - Gone. (Jul 6, 2009)
- 4: Icy North (Jul 6, 2009)
- 5: Smokehammer (Jul 6, 2009)
- 6: IctoanAWEWawi (Jul 6, 2009)
- 7: Br Robyn Hoode - Navo - complete with theme tune (Jul 6, 2009)
- 8: Edward the Bonobo - Gone. (Jul 6, 2009)
- 9: Christopher (Jul 6, 2009)
- 10: echomikeromeo (Jul 6, 2009)
- 11: Alfster (Jul 6, 2009)
- 12: turvy (Fetch me my trousers Geoffrey...) (Jul 6, 2009)
- 13: turvy (Fetch me my trousers Geoffrey...) (Jul 6, 2009)
- 14: swl (Jul 6, 2009)
- 15: 2legs - Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side... (Jul 6, 2009)
- 16: Not-so-bald-eagle (Jul 6, 2009)
- 17: Mrs Zen (Jul 6, 2009)
- 18: 2legs - Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side... (Jul 6, 2009)
- 19: Alfster (Jul 6, 2009)
- 20: Mrs Zen (Jul 6, 2009)
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