Name/Title
Sussex Police male chief constable's cap 1995 -2002Entry/Object ID
2260Description
Black wool cap with chequered band and a two "silver" laurel bands around the peak, with a leather chin strap and fitted with a star shaped Queen's crown "Sussex Police" enamelled solid centre coat of arms cap badge. Makers marks "Weston Cap Limited Made in England". Size 56Use
For use by a male chief constable in Sussex PoliceContext
It has long been practice for senior police officers to have rank insignia on their uniform caps as well as on their uniform tunics. Since the 20th century officers of the rank of inspector and above have had some form of insignia on their caps. Two silver coloured braided laurel bands designate a chief constable.
This particular cap has the Sussex Police all ranks solid centre enamelled cap badge that was introduced in 1995 and was used until a similar but voided version was introduced in 2002.
Prior to the introduction of this badge constables and sergeants had a different cap badge to the ranks of inspector and above. Until the late 1960s it was common practice for officers of superintendent rank and above to have solid silver badges, all be it of exactly the same design as those used by Inspectors.
In recent years from approximately 2005 it has become common practice for chief officer ranks in Sussex Police to have far more elaborate cap badges than all other ranks, and in some cases far more elaborate peak braiding than previously used. This is in contrast to the very utilitarian uniforms that more junior officers are required to wear.
The last Sussex Police chief constable to wear a cap with an all ranks cap badge was Sir Ken Jones, who led the force from 2001 to 2006, although he went on wear a cap with a more elaborate chief officer's badge.