Dave Wilkinson

If you go on to the City of London Police website and click on "About Us" you will see information about the museum. There is a direct telephone number and an email address. I apologise if this is an avenue that you've already explored. Dave.

Sentiment's that I agree with in their entirety! Dave.

Glad you like the photos. They did deal with most offences themselves including indecency. But if female witnesses were involved, a City Policewoman would assist That said, there was no Parks CID, so if the offence was one to which a detective was required to be allocated then this would be someone from the City Police. That allocation would take place at a City Police Station to which the prisoner had been taken. That said, the arresting Park Constable would be responsible for preparing his own prosecution file for court. They did not deal with complicated crime investigations/offences as they did not have the capacity or training for for such things. Most arrest prosecutions were undertaken by a City Police Inspector at the Magistrates Court although in some cases the Town Clerk's Department would undertake the prosecution. This was usually when process was undertaken by summons. In the event of a "not guilty" plea the matter would go to trial with a prosecutor being appointed by the Town Clerk's Department. I'm attaching a summery of their work for the year 1969. Dave.

Danny, Thanks for your very detailed response, I appreciate it. Much of what you have said confirms my own thoughts which I outlined in a previous post. On the subject of medals, I too regard Coronation and jubilee medals as being relatively meaningless. On the other hand I do value my Police LS & GC medal. I can understand your shock at finding a retired bobby selling his medals on line, but many retired police and MoD employees do so and will no doubt continue. Just wait and see what happens when the Coronation medals start to be rolled out. Within days they will be on eBay. The prime sellers will be serving bobbies out to make a fast buck. Please explain why so many Met. men wear helmets that are far too large for them. I saw several at the Coronation (Met. men) who looked stupid and yet no one presumably bothered to say anything yo them. Why are men and some women wearing trousers that do not fit and that have two or three inches of trouser leg draped over boots and shoes and as a result look like a version of "Nora Batty". Why are some men not bothering to shave before they parade for duty. Why are they not being taken to task by Sergeants' and Inspectors' ? Look at pass out videos and you will see plenty of ill fitting kit being worn. This is inexcusable. If a recruit is given the impression that this is acceptable at an initial training level, what hope is there that he/she will improve when they receive their postings? These issues are not confined to the Met., but are endemic in all forces. I've put these failings to several recently retired Sgts and Inspectors (both Met. and provincial). Without exception they say that its not worth bothering to take individuals to task. If they tell someone once and they don't comply, to do so again is inviting of complaint of bullying. There is no support from above. So, no one bothers. Yesterday, I went to a Police Insignia Collectors meeting. Yes, I'm one of those "sad" individuals that collects badges. There was a good representation from seven or eight forces. Without exception all said that there are no plans to change to a CIIIR/KC helmet plate or cap badge in their respective forces although some indicated that vehicle marking may be updated as and when. Thanks again for your input. It is appreciated. Dave.

Whilst this posting is several years old I've only just come upon it. The information with regard to presentation truncheons is indeed correct. However, that which relates to silver braided cap peaks for Inspectors and "wide" chevrons for Sergeants is not. Photographic evidence indicates clearly that these Liverpool City Police adornments' were being worn long before the 1919 police strike. Another common misnomer is that Sergeants were issued with signalling sticks post the 1919 strike as a form of commemoration. Again, photos indicate that these were in use long before the police strike. The website "Liverpool City Police" is an excellent source of information in respect of policing on Merseyside. However, please bear in mind that some of the information submitted by contributors may not be entirely accurate. Dave.

As far as I'm aware they are produced in the UK. Unless the procedure has changed, the award is approved by the Governor of the Overseas Territory who then, via the Crown Agents, places an order for the medal with whoever holds the current contract. All the costs involved are met by the Government of the relevant Overseas Territory. Dave.

The simple answer is yes. The "bars" have only recently been approved so those entitled will have no alternative but to fit them to the already awarded QC EIIR medals. It will be a good few years before the recipient of a KC CIIIR long service medal can be awarded the ten year bar. Dave.

Liverpool Parks Police were a non-Home Office force which existed between 1865 and 1972. It was one of a small number of parks police forces that had full unrestricted constabulary powers. The legislation used was the Liverpool Corporation Act 1921. Section 221. They were commanded by a Superintendent. He was the only Senior Officer. Ranks below him were Sergeant and Constable. Shown below are the final issue helmet, cap and Superintendent's cap. This cap belonged to the final holder of that position, John J. Buchanan LL.B.(Hons). The two final photos of two Constables and a Sergeant were taken in the 1960's. (Photo credits. Liverpool Corporation). Dave.

Quite a rare helmet plate. The crown (Queen Victoria's) dates it to pre. 1902. Helmets began to be worn by County Police forces in England and Wales around about 1865. So, the dates of this badge's use would be between those dates. Gloucestershire Constabulary used two versions of this badge. Your example is the earlier of the two. The second pattern can be seen on the below badge grouping. (Bottom row, second from the left). I hope this is helpful. Dave.

Regrettably, I fear that when the time comes no Sergeant or senior officer will enforce the wearing of CIIIR insignia in the Met. Looking at the TV its the norm for some of them to wear helmets which are three sizes too big for one thing. The majority do not know how to wear a cap properly. Many have removed the wire from the crown and as a result look like bus conductors. In addition it appears to be quite acceptable to have two or three inches of each trouser leg draped over their shoes/boots. They either need a pair that fit properly or a pair of braces. Take a look at the on line videos of their pass outs. A disgrace. So, making them wearing CIIR badges will certainly not be high on the agenda. I don't think the poor wearing of uniform is confined to the Met. It appears endemic in most forces these days. Don't forget, telling someone off for poor standards of dress is bullying! One other thing, why is it that male officers don't appear to shave before coming to work anymore? In my day you'd be sent home and told to re-parade in a clean shaven condition for the following shift. The female who is wearing just the LS medal is from a county force, not the Met. She probably arrived in London without her other medals, or perhaps with no medals at all? Again, preventing her from performing an outside duty in public view because she forgot her medals could be construed as bullying. No Met. boss would dare impose that restriction nor I suspect would a Sgt. or Inspector from her own force if she was accompanied by such. Interestingly, there appears to be a female Chief Constable to the defaulting Constable's right. She presumably neither said or did anything in respect of the lack of medals. There is a video on the MoD website showing preparations for the Coronation. Part of it shows the inside of Firmin's factory and their staff fixing new crowns over the old on cap badges and examining the re-crowned finished item. Dave.

I understand that the relative records for the City of London Police are indeed at the London Archives. I've never used them so I can't comment in respect of their charges. You could possibly take a chance and write to the City of London Police Museum at Wood Street. They may be able to help. But, I fear that they may just point you in the direction of the archives, but depending who gets your enquiry, they may just be able to put their hands easily on the answer to your enquiry. Best of luck. Dave.

On another forum of which I'm a member, a serving Met. bobby posted the following comments in respect of badge changes:- " Yep, I just worked ceremonial duty on Saturday and there was no attempt by the MPS or any of the UK and British Overseas / Commonwealth Territories police who were in my contingent to replace cap badges or any other EIIR insignia for the Coronation, unlike the military. And having worn EIIR for 30+ years now I won’t be changing it going forward either! " It transpires that many of the military cap badges which have simply had a crown replacement (KC for QC) have been very poorly produced with a KC simply soldered over the QC, which remains in situ underneath. That alteration is from all accounts, very poorly done and very obvious in many cases. Dave.

Look on eBay or similar on line auction sites. There are several platinum versions on there now. As soon as the Coronation medal is issued they too will begin to appear for sale, again on auction sites. Best of luck. Dave.

Another small specialist force which existed between 1893 and 1993, the Manchester Ship Canal Police. The final issue helmet and badge are illustrated together with a couple of photos taken in the 1970's of force members. (Photo credits Manchester Ship Canal Company). Dave.

Yes, the Sgt./Const. cap does indeed have vent holes behind the mesh band. Immediately, following the change to Chinese rule the caps remained the same. Indeed, the whole force were provided with new cap badges in advance of the handover. I have some photos of their men on the streets and actually taking the old Crowned badge out of their cap on the stroke of midnight and replacing it with the new non-crowned version. If you get a chance look on "YouTube" at the Governor (Chris Patten) leaving Government House for the last time. Very evocative with the RHKP hauling down the Governor's flag and him being presented with it prior to him driving out. Some excellent drill by the police. I suspect that the caps worn are still made in HK and looking at current photos they don't seem to have changed but without seeing one close up I'm not sure. Dave.

PoD Police are still very active. They have a "Twitter" page which is updated most days. Helmets were originally re-introduced to comply with H&S legislation in the port and to avoid wearing plastic hard hats. However, these days they seem to wear caps. How they are able to avoid contravening current H&S I don't know. Yes, it was the last force I was in before retirement. A good few years ago, I bought a large collection of City of London items from a collector who was packing in. The Commissioners cap came with it together with some other items belonging to Mr. Owen. He apparently had more than one cap. I knew Mike Bowron when he was an ACC in Kent. A really nice guy. After he retired from the City of London he moved to Jersey as their Chief of Police. Although he's retired from there now he still lives on the Island. His wife was a Det.Con. with the BTP. Glad the updates to this thread are of interest. Dave.

The British Colony of Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997, it being the largest of Britain's remaining overseas possessions. Below is an example of the cap worn by the RHKP Commissioner and also a Constable's summer issue cap. These are the last patterns used prior to the end of Colonial rule. Both caps were manufactured in Hong Kong. Dave.

A couple of helmets from the Dover Harbour Board Police. The force was formed in 1933, at which time the DHB terminated its policing contract with the Dover Watch Committee and replaced members of the Dover Borough Police with its own men. The first helmet was worn from circa. 1933 through to the early 1960's at which time helmets were replaced by caps. In November 1985, helmets were re-introduced and the pattern shown was worn through to 1989 when the badge changed in design. The force was re-named Port of Dover Police on 1st January 1997, with a new style helmet and badge. Dave.

Owen Kelly QPM., was Commissioner of Police for the City of London between 1985 and 1993. Below is shown his cap and a photo of Mr. Kelly wearing it. (Photo credit the City of London Police). Also shown is an example of the cap worn by Superintending ranks in the City of London Police. The force is the only one in the UK to wear red and white cap bands and gold coloured buttons etc on their tunic jackets. They are also the remaining force to still use duty armlets (red and white) on their tunics. Dave.

The Royal Grenada Police force is no longer a colonial police force in the true sense of the words. The island achieved independence in 1974, but (at the time of writing) HM King Charles is still head of state as indeed was HM Queen Elizabeth before him. Since the earliest of times the badges have remained essentially the same save for the change of Crown and cipher, as can be seen in the framed display of insignia. I show here a ceremonial helmet which was worn by the Chief of Police (now known as the Commissioner) during the 1950's. Dave.

A Chief Constable's cap this time. This cap belonged to Major Lionel Westropp Peel-Yates KPM., who was Chief Constable of Dorset between 19th April 1924 and 28th February 1955. He was previously a District Inspector in the Royal Irish/Royal Ulster Constabulary. He was a direct descendent of Sir Robert Peel, founder of the London Metropolitan Police in 1829. One of the photos shows Major Peel-Yates wearing the cap. (Photo credit Dorset Constabulary). Dave.

The 1953 Coronation saw large numbers of police officers from all forces in England & Wales being sent to London to assist the Metropolitan Police (See "Policing the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday 2nd June 1953"). Several forces equipped their men with "Home Office" pattern helmets for the occasion. These were designed to "fit in" with the style of helmet worn by the Met. Police and were described as "Mutual Aid Helmets", stocks of which were specifically held in store for such occasions. The forces concerned normally wore versions which would, if worn in London, have caused their men to be somewhat conspicuous. The badges used also followed the basic star pattern design as worn by the Met. The forces that I'm aware of who issued their men with these helmets are Liverpool, Manchester, Salford and Stockport. The photos below show the Liverpool helmet. Made by Christy's of Stockport, the helmet has the date 1948 stamped into the leather headband. The Watch Committee minutes for 1948 show that 400 such helmets and badge were purchased and held in store. After the Coronation, the helmets were recovered from the men and were returned to the clothing stores. Its been suggested that they were also worn by the Liverpool contingent that attended the funeral of the late King George VI, although I found no written evidence of that fact. Dave.

On the subject of white helmets, we could not forget the Brighton Borough Police, who for many years were well known for their day time white summer helmets. They were introduced for daytime summer wear in 1933 and ceased six years later. They were re-introduced and worn between 1952 and the demise of the force in 1967. Below is the white helmet and the night time and winter counterpart. Dave.

The Isle of Man Constabulary used to issue two patterns of helmet. One for winter (black) and one for summer (white). However, for about the last 15 years they have worn the white one all year round. Thank you for your continued interest. It is much appreciated. Dave.

Some very handsome badges here Graf. Thank you for sharing. Dave.