Name/Title
Sussex Police helmet c1974 to 1985Entry/Object ID
1105Description
Blue un-panelled felt covered plastic/fibreglass Sussex Police helmet with chrome rose top (slightly dented), black metal band and chrome Queen's Crown "Sussex Police EIIR" one piece helmet plate. Coloured green inside with leather headband. Marked on headband "size 6 3/4", "Christy London Made in England" and written in ink "Harman AH 154".Use
Standard uniform headdress for male Police Constables and Sergeants in Sussex PoliceContext
This style of police helmet with a rose top, has been standard male uniform headdress in Sussex since the smaller forces were amalgamated to form Sussex Constabulary in 1968. The badge or "helmet plate", on this helmet was in use in Sussex from 1974, when the Force name was changed from "Sussex Constabulary" to "Sussex Police", and remained in use until 1999 when a new badge was introduced with a coat of arms.
This helmet is of an interesting construction. Police helmets were traditionally made of cork or pressed felt but by the late 1960s and 1970s police forces were beginning to use plastics. This particular helmet is not of the re-enforced "Custodian" type, but is thought to be made of plastic/glass fibre, suggesting it is an earlier version, probably pre 1985 and possibly earlier. It also is not covered by separate panels of fabric, which was traditional for rose topped helmets, but a single piece of felt on the outside. Sometimes earlier one piece felt helmets, such as coxcomb styles were made of shellac re-enforced cloth, but the date of this indicates it may be ABS plastic, and plastic has been used in the construction of the headband. The inside is either a green applied type of flocking or a single piece of felt to mimic the green buckram fabric that was stuck onto cork helmets. The helmet does not have a chinstrap but the remains where one has been cut out can be seen. By the late 1980s all helmets issued in Sussex were of the re-enforced "Custodian" type, complete with extra internal padding and additional webbing harness chinstrap for use in public order situations. These helmets normally are covered with two panels of felt with a seam running from the front to back.
The " Harman AH 154" marking is the officer's surname and warrant number.