East Sussex Constabulary notebook 1965

Object/Artifact

-

Old Police Cells Museum Brighton

East Sussex Constabulary notebook with statement aide memoire 1965

East Sussex Constabulary notebook with statement aide memoire 1965

Name/Title

East Sussex Constabulary notebook 1965

Entry/Object ID

2361

Description

East Sussex Constabulary pocket notebook (5 x 3 1/8 inches) consisting of 100 numbered lined pages recording investigations and enquiries from 5th June 1965 until 18th September 1965 written in ink. In the rear is a type written aide memoire relating to statement taking, giving the correct wording to use to begin and conclude statements.

Use

For an officer to record details of investigations

Context

Since the 19th century police officers have been issued with pocket notebooks to record anything relevant during their periods of duty, and they would often be referred to when an officer gave evidence at court. Generally the use of these notebooks has not changed significantly over the last 100 years and there are strict guidelines concerning their use. In the past as now, they are signed out to officers and date stamped. Each page is numbered to prevent removal and officers are instructed to note leave spaces, so that entries can be backdated. The time an officer begins his duty and finishes, together with any breaks should be recorded and any entry should be timed. Often notebooks would have leather notebook covers. This particular pocket notebook is of a style that was later used in Sussex Constabulary and Sussex Police by investigators, normally CID officers, and some senior officers, before the more recent adoption of A4 Investigator's Notebooks. This and the fact that it contains at least one detailed interview and other enquiries, suggests it may have been used by a detective rather than a uniformed constable. It dates from a period before most criminal interviews were audio recorded. It was issued to Robert Allen, who retired as a superintendent in Sussex Police, having previously served in East Sussex Constabulary and Sussex Constabulary. A4 Investigator's Notebooks are still issued in Sussex Police by investigator's to record records of investigations but are no longer used to record the interview of suspects which have to be audio recorded.