Name/Title
Sussex Police traffic officer's leather motorcycle jacket c1985 - 1995Entry/Object ID
HC3Description
Black leather motorcycle jacket with front zip and velcro fastening, two breast and two waist pockets, all with stud fastenings. There are quilted pads on the shoulders and elbows and stud fastened epaulettes on both shoulders, each with the chrome metal letter and numbers "B" over "126". Over the left breast pocket is stitched a badge printed "Police" in white lettering. Marked on label inside "Crusader by Mike Lewis" along with care instructions.Use
For use by a Sussex Police traffic officerContext
Despite the widespread use of motorcycles across the police forces of Sussex from the 1920s onwards, the provision of safety equipment, especially uniform, was very limited. To begin with it was usually restricted to leather gauntlets, googles and sometimes boots. Even motorcycle helmets were not common until the 1950s, with most motorcycle officers wearing caps. By the 1960s officers had proper helmets but still wore normal police uniform tunics with tapered woollen breeches, to allow motorcycle boots to be worn. Officer's riding lightweight motorcycles, normally wore normal uniform, with the addition of specially re-enforced police helmets, often called "noddy helmets", as officers were instructed to acknowledge senior officer's by nodding, to prevent them from trying to salute and loose control of the motorcycle.
Within Sussex Police, the quality of uniform for motorcyclists slowly improved and by the 1980s purpose made nylon waterproof motorcycle jackets were provided, with reflective "Police" panels on the rear and additional hi visibility stripes on the sleeves, which were designed to be worn with a high viz belt. They had a reflective "Police" badge over the left breast pocket and metal letters with the officer's number. Traffic officers riding large motorcycles were also issued with leather motorcycle trousers.
This particular jacket pictured is of a type that was being issued to Sussex Police traffic motorcyclists riding heavyweight motorcycles by the mid 1980s and is of design that was originally produced by the company "Lewis Leathers" in the mid 1970s under the name "The Roadmaster Mk2". The style with its epaulettes was popular with police forces, as it meant officer's numbers could be easily attached to them. The example pictured was actually made by "Crusader Leathers Ltd." which was established in Sheffield in 1985 by an ex-employee of Lewis Leathers, Mike Lewis and made many items to their designs. This type of jacket, complete with matching trousers was issued to heavyweight traffic motorcyclists in Sussex well into the 1990s. They were eventually replaced with shorter more contemporary blouson styles. It would have originally had a leather belt between the loops around the waist.
This particular jacket was issued to PC B126 George Barclay, who was a traffic officer based at Brighton. The museum also has one of PC Barclay's later style "blouson" type motorcycle jackets (item 2024.1) as well as a pair of his boots (item 2024.3)