Name/Title
Police checkered hat band c1980Entry/Object ID
142Description
Black and white Checkered hat band, made from a strip of black and white diced cotton/nylon material sewed together.Use
For use on a police cap or female police officer's hat.Context
In 1932 the Chief Constable of Glasgow Sir Percy Silitoe adopted a black and white diced cap band for all officers who wore caps, and it became known as "Silitoe tartan". It was based on chequered hat bands that some `Scottish army regiments wore. In much of Scotland helmets were not worn and the diced or checkered band became adopted for use on caps in all of the Scottish forces.
The band was not used in England or Wales until the early 1970s, after which it became quickly adopted in all UK forces, including Sussex Constabulary, who introduced it in the summer of 1971. All forces use the black and white dicing except the City Of London Police, who have a red and white diced band on their caps and female officer's bowlers.
This particular band probably dates from the 1980s.