Regimental cap badges are usually cast as one single piece but in a number of cases they may be cast in different pieces. For instance, the badge of the now amalgamated, The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) was cast in two separate pieces: the Queen's Crown and the thistle forming one piece, and the stag's head and scroll with regimental motto forming a second piece (see the first picture above). One final reason could be tradition. Hats have been an essential part of the police uniform since the 19th century and it could represent the long-standing commitment that the police have had to protect the British public. Do police officers have to wear hats?

The police have recently introduced the option of baseball caps or “bump caps” as part of the uniform whilst phasing out traditional helmets. The main reason for this is to provide gender-neutral hats to make the police force more inclusive. Not only this, but their lightweight nature makes it easier for officers to get in and out of vehicles without having to remove them. In the British Army (as well as other Commonwealth armies) each regiment and corps has its own cap badge. The cap badge of the Queen's Royal Lancers is called a motto by those within the regiment, [1] that of the Royal Horse Artillery is known as a cypher and that of the Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards and Irish Guards is known as a cap star. For U.S. Air Force service caps, a large, silver eagle device is worn on the service caps. For enlisted men, a smaller version of the officer's insignia is worn, but enclosed in a ring. The use of the same device is because the U.S. Air Force was once part of the U.S. Army. United Kingdom [ edit ] Royal Navy [ edit ] Badge of a petty officer on a hat of female RN personnel, left, with a commissioned officer's badge on a peaked cap, right. Queen's Royal Lancers Gift Shop". Archived from the original on 2008-09-05 . Retrieved 2009-01-03. QRL Motto (Cap badge of The Queen's Royal Lancers).

Site Customisation

Officers: usually three-dimensional in design with more expensive materials such as silver, enamel and gilt. Most officers' beret badges are embroidered rather than metal or "stay-brite". In the United States Army, a distinctive unit insignia (DUI) is worn on the flash of a beret. For service caps, a gilt eagle device is worn. This is the Great Seal of the United States. In the late nineteenth century, this device on a blue circle was listed as the equivalent of the roundel that appeared on headgear of many European armies. The concept of regimental badges appears to have originated with the British Army. The Encyclopædia Britannica 's 1911 Edition notes that although branch badges for infantry, cavalry and so on were common to other armies of the time, only the British Army wore distinctive regimental devices. [2] Cap badge variations [ edit ] The Royal Corps of Signals also have a two-part badge. The top being a brass crown and the bottom consisting of a silver flying body of Mercury (the winged messenger of the gods– 'Jimmy') above a brass world and the motto certa cito ('swift and sure').

Plastic cap badges were introduced during the Second World War, when metals became strategic materials. Nowadays many cap badges in the British Army are made of a material called "stay-brite" ( anodised aluminium, anodising is an electro-plating process resulting in lightweight shiny badge), this is used because it is cheap, flexible and does not require as much maintenance as brass badges. For officers, a large eagle device is worn. For enlisted men, a small version of the officer's insignia centered on a disk is worn on the front. Warrant officers used to wear a gold eagle device, known as "Eagle Rising," centered on the cap but now wear the same devices as regular officers. For garrison caps, generally the rank insignia is worn, but recent regulations call for the wear of the DUI. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Uniforms § Regimental Badges". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol.27 (11thed.). Cambridge University Press. p.586.Their job was to look after female prisoners at police stations or the courts. As mentioned before, the traditional custodial helmet was made part of the uniform in 1865, before women were employed by the force. As a result, there are separate hat styles for men and women.

Interestingly enough, other countries also adopted similar versions of the hat in their police forces such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand from the late nineteenth century until recently. Many people ask what the purpose of the police hat is and why there are so many variations. We will cover this in this article along with its unique name and the reasons for different hats for male and female officers. What is a police hat called? Gloucestershire Constabulary states the same that it must be worn by officers and PCSOs when in public view. A common sense approach is also adopted in times of emergency or impractical circumstances.Plain brass cap badge of RM other ranks. This version is also worn by Royal Marines Cadets of the rank of Colour Sergeant or below. Cap badges in the Royal Air Force differ in design between those of commissioned officers and other ranks. In addition to caps and berets, they are also worn on forage caps. The traffic police or the ‘roads policing’ as they are sometimes known are responsible for policing the roads in the UK. The main reason that traffic police wear white hats is for visibility. They are responsible for attending to and controlling road-related incidents, whether minor or serious. Therefore, it is incredibly important to be visible as traffic police often work in potentially dangerous environments by managing traffic and clearing incidents. Many collisions occur on motorways due to the high volume of fast-moving vehicles. This, therefore, provides a potential danger for traffic police when dealing with accidents. Badges of rank and other badges of the Royal Marines Band Service". Archived from the original on 2013-07-29 . Retrieved 2020-08-07.