Sussex Police TCH 840 rigid handcuffs and PWL leather belt holder c2018 - 2026
Name/Title
Sussex Police TCH 840 rigid handcuffs and PWL leather belt holder 2018 - 2026
Entry/Object ID
2584
Description
A pair of nickel plated steel handcuffs with black solid plastic centre pieces, marked "TCH Made in England" on the plastic and "TCH 840" and "563589" on the metal arms. The belt holder is made of black leather with metal pop fasteners and rivets, marked on rear "PWL Made in England RCP/5 J/9 L/H"
Use
For carrying rigid handcuffs on a belt.
Context
In 2018 after many years of resisting rigid handcuffs, Sussex Police became one of the last police forces in the UK to adopt rigid handcuffs. Since the mid 1990s when rigid handcuffs began to be used in the country, Sussex Police had been concerned by the risk of wrist injuries associated with their use as a control and compliance aid. This is because once attached to one wrist the rigid nature of the design means that the cuff can be used to apply pressure on the wrist and encourage compliance to the securing on the free wrist, should the prisoner be struggling. However from 2018 the force began to replace all of the handcuffs then in use with rigid cuffs such as these. They are made by the British company "Total Control Handcuffs" and the belt holder for the is from another British company "Price Western Limited".
