Name/Title
Sussex Police female constable's waterproof coat c1989Entry/Object ID
2416Description
Blue/black nylon mid length waterproof coat, with five press stud fastenings and zip to the front, and detachable quilted lining. There are two waist pockets and two breast pockets, all with velcro fastening flaps and over the left breast pocket is a bell shaped badge with an embroidered star with the words "Sussex Police" inside of which is an "EIIR" centre. Under the star shaped badge is embroidered "Police" in reflective lettering. Under this badge on the flap of the pocket are the chrome plated metal letters and numbers "DH 60". Inside is a label marked "Cyclone" and another marked "Anorak size chest 104cm/Regular J. Compton Sons &Webb Ltd." and handwritten "-1" sleeve".Use
For a female constable in Sussex Police to use as outerwear.Context
Until the late 1980s both male and female officers within Sussex Police were issued with raincoats made of Gannex material. These were then replaced with shorter lighter weight nylon coats like this, which had removable quilted liners, and were issued together with water resistant overskirts and trousers. These coats were essentially the same for male and female officers. There were no epaulettes and the officer's warrant number was attached on the left hand breast pocket flap, along with any relevant metal rank insignia. These coats were the first Sussex Police garment to be worn in public which carried the embroidered "Sussex Police EIIR" badge. Though these badges were also used on early pullovers, these pullovers were not intended to be worn on their own, as they did not display officer's warrant numbers.
Coats such as this were often referred to as "car coats" but they were the only coats issued to all officers from the late 1990s, so were also worn by officers on foot patrol.
After 1995 the same style of coat was used but the "EIIR" badge was replaced with the new Sussex Police coat of arms badge and the use of metal warrant numbers was replaced with embroidered ones. These coats continued to be worn until the 2000s when they were replaced with shorter high visibility blouson jackets and fleeces. In 2019 in response to complaints that existing winter clothing was not warm enough, officers were also issued with a heavily quilted parka type coat.
This particular coat was issued to WPC Alison Harrison, probably in 1989 after she got married and changed her name from Wolfe, necessitating a new 'DH60' warrant number and some new uniform.