Name/Title
Sussex Police male superintendent or chief superintendent's cap 1995 - 2002Entry/Object ID
2172Description
Black wool cap with chequered band and a single "silver" plain band around the peak, with leather chin strap, and fitted with a star shaped Queen's crown "Sussex Police" enamelled solid centre coat of arms cap badge. Maker's marks "Hobson". Size "7 3/8". Inside the headband is written in ink "J. Paine"Use
For use by a male superintendent or chief superintendent 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.
A single silver coloured plain band designates either a superintendent or chief superintendent.
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.
This cap has "J.Paine" written on the inside and would most likely have been used by Jeremy Paine who went on to become an assistant chief constable from 2006 to 2009. When he was a superintendent/chief superintendent, he became something of a household name between 1999 and 2005, for being a co-presenter of the BBC programme "Crimewatch", which appealed to the public for help in solving crime.
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.