Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a police officer; thus bulkie ken, a police station; a prison guard.

1821		D. Haggart Autobiog. 31: We were pursued by two bulkies. [Ibid.] 70: I was taken to the Bulkie Kain.
1828		Lytton Pelham III 247: We have done many a mad prank together, which I should not like the bugaboos and bulkies to know.
1841		Lytton Night and Morning v ii n.p.: Inquiries about your respectability would soon bring the bulkies about me [F&H].
1844		Leeds Times 22 June 6/1: I too do hate the bulkies [...] But oh! take care — the bulkies approach! beware raw lobsters.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1881		Newcastle Courant 16 Sept. 6/5: We are safe enough here, the bulkies will never find this room.
1935		A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 15/1: Bulky, a prison guard.

2. (Ulster) a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; thus the bulkies, the RUC.

1979

J. Morrow Confessions of Proinsias O’Toole 22: Twenty-five poun’ of gelly buried in his back garden an’ an anonymous tip-off to the bulkies.