Custodian helmet

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Crest-type custodian helmet; in this case with the Hampshire Constabulary's atypical badge

The custodian helmet is the correct name for the style of helmet worn by British police officers. It is the traditional headgear of the "bobby on the beat", worn by male constables and sergeants on foot patrol in England and Wales. Although some Scottish police forces used to wear it, no Scottish force has used the helmet in many years. The police in Northern Ireland have never worn it, although the Royal Irish Constabulary once used a style of helmet more akin to British Army helmets of the 19th century. The custodian helmet is also worn by the British Transport Police and Ministry of Defence Police (in England and Wales only), the States of Jersey Police, the States of Guernsey Police Service, the Isle of Man Constabulary, the Royal Gibraltar Police, and the Bermuda Police.

The custodian helmet was adopted by the Metropolitan Police in 1863 to replace the top hat formerly worn, and other forces soon followed suit.

The helmet is traditionally made of cork covered outside by felt or serge like material that matches the tunic. Inside the brim is faced with a plain material and a leather head band adjusts the fit. The top of the helmet may have a comb and crest, a ball or a simple boss. Of the 43 Home Office territorial forces in England and Wales, 21 currently use the comb style^[1], eighteen use the boss style^[2], and only four use the ball style.^[3] Some forces wore spikes on top of the helmet, although these have now been phased out.

A thin chin strap is all that keeps it on, though a more secure fitting was developed to keep the helmet on when it was used in riot control situations before specialist helmets were adopted. Some helmets have two chin straps - one for normal usage and one with a double strap and chin cup for more strenuous activity, which can be folded up inside the helmet when not in use. Many officers choose not to use the chin strap at all, however.

All forces except the City of London Police, Hampshire Constabulary and West Mercia Constabulary use the Brunswick star as the basis for their helmet plate.

[edit] Notes

^ Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, City of London, Cleveland, Derbyshire, Dorset, Durham, Essex, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Kent, Merseyside, Norfolk, Northumbria, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Thames Valley, West Mercia, West Yorkshire, Gwent, South Wales. Also used by Jersey, Port of Liverpool, and Port of Dover
^ Avon and Somerset, Bedfordshire, Cumbria, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Metropolitan, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, South Yorkshire, Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Wiltshire, Dyfed-Powys. Also used by British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Port of Tilbury, Falmouth Docks, Guernsey, Gibraltar, and Bermuda.
^ Devon and Cornwall, Humberside, Nottinghamshire, North Wales. Also used by the Isle of Man.