Name/Title
Sussex Constabulary vinyl cap cover c1970Entry/Object ID
2538Description
White coloured vinyl cap cover with two pairs of air holes either side and an elasticated edge to facilitate fitting to a cap. Only marking is inside in pencil "6 7/8".Use
To put on a normal uniform cap to make it more visible and waterproof.Context
White cap covers were used by police in Sussex, from at least the early 20th century, normally as summer wear on otherwise normal uniform caps. In particular between 1912 until 1936 when West Sussex Constabulary abandoned the use of helmets, white cotton covers were used throughout the summer months. Removable covers meant that officers could use the same caps all year round and made cleaning them easier.
Following the re adoption of helmets in West Sussex Constabulary, white caps and covers do not appear to have been used again in Sussex until the late 1960s, when they were adopted for use by Traffic Department officers, in order to increase their visibility. It is believed that this only began after the creation of Sussex Constabulary in 1968. It is known that at this time the first female traffic officers in the force were instructed to point their hats white and it seems likely that the use of white caps by male officers happened at the same time.
To begin with it appears that covers were used as in previous times, possibly cotton. By the 1970s it was common practice for traffic officers to have purpose made vinyl caps and removable covers such as the one shown here, were probably used beforehand as a more durable alternative to cotton ones.