Name/Title
Reproduction of early police swallowtail coat c1955Entry/Object ID
270Description
Blue wool single breasted high closed collar jacket with eight buttons to the front and swallow tails to the rear, with four additional decorative buttons, two on side of tails. Regarding the buttons to the front, six are chrome plated and marked " East Sussex Constabulary" with Queen's crowns, one is a reproduction leather button and one a modern chrome button with a tower motif. Those to the rear include two which are chrome plated marked 'West Sussex Constabulary" with Queen's crowns and two are brass RAF buttons with King's crowns. There are cotton loops around the waist to hold a belt in place. Inside is a cotton lining and each tail has an internal pocket. There are no marks or numbers on the collar.Use
To represent the type of uniform tunic worn by the first police officers in the 19th century.Context
Prior to the establishment of the Metropolitan Police in London there were many concerns that such a force would be an arm of the state such as the military and used to oppress civilians rather than protect them. Consequently when the force formed in 1829, a number of measures were introduced to trey and alleviate these concerns. Not only were officers not to be armed with lethal weapons, but they were to have a uniform that was to be as far removed from contemporary military ones as possible. As a result the first uniforms of a blue swallow tailed tunic and re -enforced top hat were based upon civilian clothing of the period. Overcoats and capes were also provided. During the winter the tunics were worn with blue woollen trousers and in the summer with white cotton ones. Officer's personal numbers were embroidered on the collars and there were pockets provided in the swallow tails for carrying truncheons and other items. As other police forces were established elsewhere in the UK, they broadly followed the example of the Metropolitan Police and adopted very similar uniforms.
Over time the style of police tunic began to change and by the late 1850s, swallow tailed tunics were being replaced with a three quarter length garment, though the Metropolitan Police did not adopt this until 1864.
This particular swallowtail tunic is one of a number that are known to have come from Sussex Police, along with pairs of white cotton trousers. They are all very well tailored and usually have buttons from either East or West Sussex Constabulary from the 1950s/60s. These reproductions of original tunics, are believed to have been used in the various sports days, tattoos and other public displays that were regular features in both of the Sussex county police forces and went on to be held by Sussex Constabulary. Though not original, they are in themselves museum pieces, dating from the 1950s, and are excellent representations of the type of uniforms worn by the first police officers.