Name/Title
Brighton Borough Police Special Constabulary Handbook 1939Entry/Object ID
2500Description
Pocket sized booklet (16.4cm x 11.5cm) contained within stiff imitation leather rexene type cover, containing 64 loose leaf pages, half in place by two screw fixings. On front cover in very faded gold coloured lettering is marked "County Borough of Brighton Special Constabulary" tother with the Brighton coat of arms. Inside on first page is printed "County Borough of Brighton Special Constabulary Reserve Official Handbook 1939".Use
For a Brighton Police special constable to use as a handbook.Context
In the past most police forces would have provided their own training aides, handbooks and guidance, often reflecting different operations practices and procedures. It was not until the Second World War that the need for national police training standards was recognised.
This handbook was produced exclusively for the use of special constables in Brighton and was printed locally in Brighton. Though dated 1939, this particular example was issued to a special constable who served in Brighton in the 1960s, suggesting that operating practices within Brighton had not radically changed over the previous 20 years. The use of loose leaf pages indicated that these handbooks were intended to be periodically revised with new material.