Name/Title
Sussex Police female officer's re-enforced Bowler style hat c1985 - 1995Entry/Object ID
243Description
Blue felt covered re-enforced female officers bowler style hat, fitted with chequered band and a round voided Queen's crown "Sussex Police EIIR" cap badge. Has a harness type chin strap and padding. Size 7¼. Maker's details unreadableUse
For use by a female constable or sergeantContext
From 1973 Sussex Constabulary and Sussex Police like most other forces, issued white topped "Surrey" style hats to female police officers.
However by the 1980s with increased public order situations taking place there were concerns regarding officers' safety. Male officers began to be issued with re-enforced custodian helmets and there was a need for similar protection for female officers. This led to the development of the bowler style hat which was widely adopted in 1985.
This particular example appears to be an early one as it has a leather headband and is in an unused condition. When it arrived at the museum it did not have a badge but has been fitted with a contemporary Sussex Police cap badge which was used between 1974 and 1995. While these hats replaced the "Surrey" style hats in Sussex and elsewhere in 1985, in Sussex they were issued to new recruits from at least April 1984. When Sussex officers arrived at the Ashford Police Training Centre in June 1984, they were still the only officers to have this new style of hat, with most other forces that were training there, still issuing their new recruits with the old "Surrey" style hats.
Bowler style hats continued to be standard headwear for female officers in Sussex Police until 2018, when they were given the option of wearing either bowlers, or uniform caps, the same as male officers. Re-enforced bowlers are still however required to be worn in potential public order situations.