Name/Title
Sussex Police senior officer's cap badge 1974-1995Entry/Object ID
261Description
Chrome plated Sussex Police start shaped Queen's Crown senior officer's cap badge, with blue enamel ring and voided (cut away) "EIIR" royal cypher. Marked in blue ring 'Sussex Police". There are two folding prongs at rear to attach to a cap rather than a slider.Use
For use on caps for inspectors and aboveContext
It was common practice in the past for officer's of the rank of Inspector and above to have more ornate cap badges than those of constables and sergeants. Indeed whilst some modern UK police forces have adopted the same cap badge for for all ranks, most still issue separate badges.
In many forces, including Sussex Constabulary, up until the 1970's it was common to see chrome badges such as this issued to inspectors and chief inspectors, and silver plated versions issued to superintendents and above. In some cases officer's of chief officer rank had even more elaborate cap badges.
When Sussex Constabulary was created in 1968 it is thought that silver badges were no longer issued. However a type of silver/mock silver plating was used for the badges of superintendents and above, which continued into the Sussex Police era. At the same time constables and sergeants were issued with a plain round shaped cap badge.
This badge with a Queen's or St. Edward's Crown was used for inspectors and above in Sussex Police between 1974 and 1995. It replaced an almost identical badge which had the word "Constabulary" instead of "Police". In 1995 all Sussex Police officer cap badges were replaced with an all ranks coloured enamel badge featuring the Sussex Police coat of arms.