Name/Title
Brighton Borough Police senior officer's cap badge 1935 - 1952Entry/Object ID
112Description
Nickel plated star shaped cap badge with King's Crown and a voided Brighton coat of arms centre, surrounded by a blue enamel ring marked "Brighton Police". Has two rear lugs and a split pin fastening.Use
For use by a Brighton Borough Police inspector or chief Inspector.Context
This style of cap badge was used for the ranks of inspector and above in Brighton Borough Police from the mid 1930s until 1952 and the death of King George VI. Prior to this senior officers in Brighton had worn a succession of shield shaped badges, some of which were elaborately embroidered ones. At the same time that star shaped badges were introduced, a round cap badge topped with a crown was adopted for use on caps by constables and sergeants, though caps were restricted to lower ranking officers on mobile duties only.
As was common practice at the time officers of superintendent rank and the Chief Constable would probably have had silver or silver plated version of the badge pictured. Captain W.J. Hutchinson the chief constable from 1933 until 1956 did not however wear this type of badge until after the Second World War, prior to that he used a large elaborate, probably bullion embroidered one on his cap.
After 1952 a very similar version of the star shaped badge was introduced for inspectors and above, but with a Queen's shaped Crown instead of a King's one. This remained in use until Brighton Borough Police was amalgamated into Sussex Constabulary in 1968. Interestingly the last two chief constable's of Brighton, Albert Rowsell and William Carey, wore a different badge. This was also star shaped and topped with a Queen's Crown, but instead of the Brighton coat of arms it had a EIIR cypher in the centre, though it was marked Brighton Police in its enamel ring. These badges were thought to have been made of Sterling silver, which may explain why they are of a different design to that used by other senior officers in Brighton.