The police hat is an easily distinguishable part of the police uniform with its helmet shape and unique badge on each hat. It first became essential wear for police officers in 1829. What started as a top hat, impractical and heavy, evolved into the police hat that we recognise today.
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?
Although it’s known by some as a ‘Bobby’s Helmet’ or commonly as a police hat, it does in fact have its own special name. It’s called a ‘custodian helmet’.
Although police hats were an essential part of the uniform from the inception of the first police force in 1820, the ‘custodian helmet’ was not created until 1865. Its creation signalled a massive change in the design of the police hat. The hat moved away from the top-hat style which proved very impractical when chasing down criminals. Instead, a helmet style was introduced which took inspiration from military-style hats.
Some sources suggest it was inspired by the hat worn by the Prussian Army. This ‘custodian helmet’ was made of cork and so was a lot lighter than the previous design. Due to it being made of cork, it led to police officers sometimes being called ‘woodentops’.
Why do police wear hats?
Identification is a big factor. A police hat is easily identifiable, making it easy to spot if you’re in a dangerous situation in public. The hat also includes an officer’s badge number, which can identify misconduct situations. Furthermore, when in pursuit of a suspect with multiple other police officers it can also act as a signal that they are a police officer in order to keep themselves safe in the event of cross-fire.
As well as this, the police hat also represents authority which provides a subconscious signal to members of the public that they can trust them to enforce the law when in danger. This also has the added benefit of stopping criminals in their tracks if a police officer is in their vicinity. The hat also serves as protection from the weather when on the beat.
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?
West Yorkshire Police states that ‘Headwear must be worn at all times when performing duty outside.’ Although this can be removed in a vehicle or in times of an emergency.
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.
Furthermore, members of the public need to be able to quickly identify a police officer in times of emergency and the police hat is an important part of identification. Gloucestershire Constabulary states that ‘Headwear clearly distinguishes officers’, which shows the importance of ensuring that police officers wear their hats.
Generally, police officers are required to wear hats except in exceptional circumstances such as emergencies and whilst driving.
Why do female police officers wear different hats?
The role of women in the police has largely taken a different path from men. Women were first employed by the police as Police Matrons in 1883.
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.
Female officers usually wear a bowler with a badge. Recently, efforts have been made to make headwear more gender-neutral. An example of this is Hertfordshire Police who have given officers the option to wear identical headwear, regardless of gender.
Why do some police officers wear Baseball caps?
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.
Baseball caps are also designed to make the police look much more approachable and are more practical as they don’t fall off. However, traditional custodial helmets are still to be worn for ceremonial duties.
The introduction of baseball caps hasn’t occurred without criticism from the general public, who have compared police officers to ‘Burger King workers’. As a result, some police forces have decided to revert the decision and return to the standard custodial helmet whilst other, more appropriate gender-neutral headwear has been decided upon.
Why do traffic police wear white hats?
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.
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