Name/Title
Sussex Constabulary investigator's notebook 1969Entry/Object ID
2359Description
Sussex Constabulary investigator's notebook (5 x 3 1/8 inches) consisting of 100 numbered lined pages, marked in ink "R.Allen" and "30/12/69". Contains record of one interview written in ink.Use
For an officer to record details of investigationsContext
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 are signed out to officers and date stamped. Each page is numbered to prevent removal and officers are instructed to note leave spaces, so that entries can 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 is of a style that was used in Sussex Constabulary and Sussex Police by investigators, normally CID officers, and some senior officers, before the more recent adoption of A4 size Investigator's Notebooks. The use of these notebooks tends to be different to those used by uniform constables, without details of duties or visits from supervisors, reflecting the different nature of the work. This one contains only one interview record and appears to have been issued for that single purpose. It dates from a period before most criminal interviews were audio recorded. It was issued to Robert Allen, who retired as a superintendent in Sussex Police, having previously served in East Sussex Constabulary and Sussex Constabulary.
A4 size Investigator's Notebooks are still issued in Sussex Police by investigator's to record records of investigations but are no longer used to record the interview of suspects which have to be audio recorded.