Single chrome plated tunic button, marked with a King's' Crown and " East 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.
This particular tunic button comes from East Sussex Constabulary and the use of the King's Crown dates it to pre 1952.
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.
