Duty armband

The duty armband was worn on the uniforms of the British Police from 1830 to 1968.[1]

Victorian Police Officer with itinerant circa 1900 - recreation. The officer is pictured wearing a duty armband on his left wrist.

All uniformed Constables and Sergeants were required to wear the armband on the left forearm sleeve of the tunic, signifying that the officers were on duty as the practice was introduced when police officers wore their uniforms at all times. The armband consisted of blue and white vertically striped cloth and between 1835 and 1864, Sergeants were required to wear a narrower version on the right forearm as a badge of rank. Constables and Sergeants attached to Road Policing Units were exempt from wearing the armlet due to the risk of catching it on an indicator arm.

During the First World War, Special Constables were widely used by police forces to relieve the regular service. From 1910 to the end of the war, Specials were not usually issued with uniforms, but were instead expected to wear an armband just above the elbow of the left arm displaying their identification number and rank. For a short time, Special Sergeants and Inspectors were required to wear a second armband on their right arm to indicate rank.

See also

• History of law enforcement in the United Kingdom
• Police uniforms and equipment in the United Kingdom

References

1. A History of Policing in Picture Postcards (12 December 2015). "Early Uniforms". Old Police Cells Museum. Retrieved 18 June 2018.