Name/Title
Sussex Police warrant card holder c1998 to presentEntry/Object ID
688Description
Black leather warrant card holder with reproduction star type Sussex Police cap badge on flap inside, over metal plate with Braille inscription for word "Police". Introduced in 1998.Use
For use in conjunction with a photo warrant card, to confirm a police officer's identity.Context
This type of warrant card holder was introduced in Sussex in 1998 to coincide with the new photo warrant card, which slid into the left side of the wallet. Prior to this there were two types of police ID used in Sussex. Police officers had small credit card sized warrant cards, which did not have a photo, and were housed in a small plastic wallet. Police officers and staff were also issued with a clip on credit card sized ID card which did have a photo, but contained the words "This is not a warrant card". These ID cards were supposed to be worn when not in uniform on police premises, especially HQ.
The exact design and type of badge used on these leather holders varies. The early ones had a resin covered badge, designed to not wear the opposite side of the wallet. Later ones such as the one shown have a badge almost identical to the cap badge recessed into the flap. However unlike the Sussex Police cap badge, the wallet one does not have a vertical slider fixing but two horizontal prongs folded back on themselves to fix into the wallet. The card holder is designed to be folded and placed in a breast pocket so the badge can be displayed.
Sussex is thought to be one of the first police forces to use the Braille strip on warrant card holders. It was designed with help from Des Chandler, a blind telephonist who worked in the Control Room at HQ.
Technically a warrant card gives an officer his warrant or authority to carry out his duties as a constable and as such has the name of the Chief Constable on it as authorising officer.
Currently in Sussex the use of the card holder has been extended to some civilian staff such as PCSO's and scenes of crime staff. However while warrant cards are marked as such, the civilian photo ID says "Identity card". All Sussex ID and warrant cards double as smart door entry keys.