Name/Title
East Sussex Constabulary pocket notebook issued to PC Walter Paviour November 1952Entry/Object ID
2545Description
Beige card bound side opening notebook, approx. 162mm x 105mm, consisting of pencil handwritten entries on numbered 130 lined pages. Printed to the front "East Sussex Constabulary", and handwritten on first page in ink, "Walter Paviour. PC121 Uckfield Uckfield Detached East Hoathly 5th November 1952 (to) 8th January 1953".Use
For an officer to record their duties and any relevant information, including evidence and visits by supervisorsContext
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 were signed out to officers and often date stamped. Each page is numbered to prevent removal and officers are instructed to note leave spaces, so that entries cannot 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 was issued to PC 121 Walter Paviour of East Sussex Constabulary who in 152 was assigned to the Uckfield Detached section of the Uckfield Division. It was used between 5th November and 8th January 1953 . This style of notebook is in a "book" form with a spine at the side. Often police notebooks fold upwards with a spine at the top.
The print reference of this particular notebook is dated "1/52" and is divided into two parts each with the same page layout. The first 76 pages form the "Duty Book" for the officer to record his duties and the pages 77 to 130 form the :Note book" for recording information and statements etc. Unlike the wartime notebooks (Items 2543 and 2544) issued to PC Paviour, this later one does not have wartime duties guides on the first and last leaves.
Notebooks are still issued in Sussex Police. However officers are encouraged to use mobile devices more to record their activities, and in some police forces pocket notebooks have been withdrawn altogether.