Name/Title
Sussex Police chief inspector's "NATO" public order helmet c2010Entry/Object ID
2385Description
Police blue re-enforced public order helmet, with lifting clear perspex visor, rear neck padding and cupped chinstrap. Has both cellular and radio microphones and earpieces. Marked at front in yellow coloured adhesive lettering "KB DD128" and on visor on a black on white sticker "Police". Marked to rear in yellow coloured adhesive lettering "KB HQ" and with three Bath Star stickers. No maker's marks other than warnings re damage to helmet and visor. The cellular piece has a separate plug for charging.Use
For a PSU (Police Support Unit) chief inspector to wear during a public order situationContext
Following a number of riots and violent public order situations in 1981, police in the UK began to be equipped with specially designed protective equipment. This included so called "riot" helmets, shields, arm and leg pads and fireproof clothing. Until this time all that was generally available were re-enforced "custodian" versions of the traditional police helmet. Along with the equipment came better training and tactics that have evolved over the intervening years. Officers that receive additional training are organised into Public Support Units (PSU's) which normally consist one inspector , three sergeants and 21 constables, including three drivers. Each PSU is subdivided into three "serials" consisting of one sergeant and six constables, with their own customised mini bus and a driver. Several PSU's are usually commanded by a suitably trained officer, usually a chief inspector, who themselves have specially trained "Tactical Advisors".
This particular helmet was used by retired Chief Superintendent Jane Derrick, when she was a chief inspector and responsible for delivering PSU command training to other officers. In this capacity she also commanded many of the operations to police the anti fracking demonstrations at Balcombe in 2013. The helmet has communications equipment fitted which is not present on those used by constables, with includes microphones for radio and telecommunications, reflecting the commander's role. In other ways it is identical to those issued to other officer's.
The yellow lettering identifies the police force, unit and identity of the officer. The "DD128" was Superintendent Derrick's warrant number, "KB" is the Home Office radio code for the Sussex Police, force wide radio network, "HQ" signifies, that the officer was based at Sussex Police Headquarters at Lewes, and the three Bath Stars or pips, signify her rank as chief inspector.
Interestingly the Home Office codes are often not pronounced using the phonetic alphabet but as letters, so instead of "kilo bravo", in Sussex "KB" is referred to as "kay bee". This is also the case with the codes in other police areas.
Police public order helmets such as this are often called "NATO" helmets. This term dates back to the 1970s when the British Army were heavily involved in the "troubles" in Northern Ireland. Due to increased rioting the army needed a better helmet that the steel ones, fitted with an improvised visor, that they were using. So a purpose made riot helmet, the "Cromwell" was introduced, which was an army motorcycle helmet with a visor fitted. Because these were Army issued motorcycle helmets they were labelled inside with NATO stock numbers, present on all military equipment, used within the NATO Alliance. When in 1981 the police suddenly needed protective equipment, they were supplied with Army riot helmets complete with NATO stock numbers. To begin with some were still green in colour. Consequently the term "NATO helmet" stuck and is still in use within the police, distinguishing these PSU helmets from reinforced versions of the traditional police helmet, which are called "custodians".