Name/Title
Sussex Constabulary constable's tunic 1968-1974Entry/Object ID
2273.1Description
Black wool constable's tunic with open collar, four large buttons to the front, two breast pockets, two hip pockets, all pockets having small buttons, and a fixed wool belt with a chrome plated two prong buckle. There are two small button fastened epaulettes, each having the chrome plated letter "A" and the numbers "862", and each lapel has a chrome plated Sussex Constabulary/Sussex Police coat of arms shield badge. All buttons are chrome plated and marked "Sussex Constabulary" with a Queen's Crown and stamped at the rear "Firmin London". Over the left breast pocket are medal ribbons for the 1939 - 1945 War Medal and the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Attached inside is a paper label marked "Huggins of Bristol and typed "Sussex Police ....Brighton" and the name "Aucott.E.H.J PC A862" along with certain measurements. There is also a collar label marked "Huggins of Bristol Made in England"Use
For use by a Sussex Constabulary constableContext
This style of open necked tunic with a belt was adopted for male sergeants and constables by Sussex Constabulary on formation in 1968 and was used by the re-named Sussex Police until the mid to late 1980s, when it was replaced with a simpler style of tunic without a belt. When first issued these tunics did not have warrant numbers on them as it had been decided that Sussex Constabulary would not display them on their uniforms. However after pressure from the Home Office numbers were eventually attached to tunics in the force.
The "Sussex Constabulary" buttons on this particular example date it from 1968 until 1974, when the force changed its name from Sussex Constabulary to Sussex Police. The epaulettes and the label inside identify this tunic as having been issued to PC A862 Aucott, who had previously been a Brighton Borough Police officer number 192. This tunic is pictured with a white shirt for display purposes, but would originally have been worn with a light blue shirt and black tie. Until the mid 1990s most police forces, including Sussex Police, used blue shirts for male constables and sergeants, with only the ranks of in inspector and above having white shirts.
The first medal ribbon is for the 1939 - 1945 War Medal which was awarded to all full time military personnel who served at least 28 days. The other ribbon is for the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, which was first instituted in 1951. To qualify for the medal an officer had to be currently serving, have completed 22 years and be of very good conduct. In 2010 the period of service was reduced to 20 years, in order to bring the police service in line with long service awards issued to the fire and ambulance services. So at the time PC Aucott was wearing this tunic he had completed at least 22 years service.
These tunics have a very interesting arrangement with the left breast pocket. Not only is there an "outside" pocket as can be seen, but inside the pocket is a divider allowing access to a much longer "inside" pocket. The reason for this arrangement is not known, though it may have something to do with the type of personnel radio issued in the late 1960s or possibly to contain some kind of report book that was too big for the other pockets?
The paper size labels suggest that these tunics were made to an officer's specific measurements, which are recorded on them.
When this tunic came to the museum it still had a pocket notebook issued to PC Aucott and a whistle on a chain in one of the breast pockets. The notebook ran from January 1971 until April 1979. The whistle is displayed in the photograph and would have been attached to the top button and kept in the left breast pocket.