Collection of 4 West Sussex Constabulary tunic buttons 1952-1967
Name/Title
Collection of 4 West Sussex Constabulary tunic buttons 1952-1967
Entry/Object ID
2350
Description
Collection of 4 chrome plated tunic buttons, marked with a Queens' Crown and " West Sussex Constabulary". No maker's marks
Use
To fasten a police tunic.
Context
Generally there are two sizes of metal police buttons, a larger one to fasten the front of a tunic, and smaller ones to fasten the tunic pockets. Sometimes small buttons were also used to fasten epaulettes and as additional adornments on tunics. Until the mid 1990s it was common for most police forces in the UK to have buttons made with their force name on. However after that simpler generic buttons with just a Queen's Crown on have been used. These tend to be of a lower quality and are not always made of metal.
These particular tunic buttons come from West Sussex Constabulary and the use of the Queen's Crown dates them from 1952 until 1967, after which the force became part of the new Sussex Constabulary in 1968.
Sussex Police have not issued tunics to officers for approximately 20 years. Instead they hold a stock of them to lend to officers for special duties or ceremonial occasions.
