Name/Title
Sussex Police utility belt and attachments 2002 - c2010Entry/Object ID
2465Description
Black nylon 50mm wide utility belt with black plastic retainers and velcro on inside for adjusting the size. There are plastic catches at top and bottom of buckle to release it. The belt has attached to it via belt loops: an incapacitant spray can holder, an airwave radio holder, a nylon, handcuff pouch and a telescopic baton holder. The spray, radio and baton holders are made of black leather and plastic and marked "Peter Jones ILG Ltd Design Right". On inside of the belt buckle is a sticker marked "M" and the buckle is marked "ITW Nexus"Use
For a police officer or PCSO to carry equipment on.Context
Until 2000 officers in Sussex Police were expected to carry their equipment on a reasonable thin leather belt approximately 28mm wide, which was attached to loops on their trousers or skirts. However over time the amount of equipment had increased considerably from just a handcuff pouch and radio, to include, a torch, a side handled baton, a first aid pouch, and a document pouch. It is ironic that in the early 1990s officers had been specifically ordered to reduce items being carried on their belts to a minimum to prevent giving a militaristic appearance, considering that the items that were now weighing officers down were things they were required to carry.
So when a new extendable baton and baton holder were added to the list of equipment in 2000 new nylon utility belts were issued. These were 50mm wide, fully adjustable via velcro and rigid enough to support the necessary equipment. Over time "Captor" incapacitant spray and its holder and tactical restraining straps have also been added to belt equipment , and some officers are also equipped with Taser stun guns. These utility belts are worn over trouser belts and have small retaining straps to hold them to the smaller belts.
This particular belt is fitted with a number of attachments. There is a "Captor" incapacitant spray holder, complete with lanyard, an Airwave radio clip and twist holder, a handcuff pouch and a telescopic baton holder. As mentioned above other equipment is also sometimes issued and carried, including torches and first aid pouches, though batons, "Captor" and handcuffs would normally be the minimum carried. For officers that have back problems, tactical vests or stab vests are issued, which takes much of the equipment weight off of the hips and waist.
Since 2018 Sussex Police has replaced nylon utility belts with wide leather ones.