High Court Tipstaff's badge and button

[Jamesb853]

Attached are scans of a badge and button worn by the Tipstaff to the High Court of Justice, which I hope will be of some interest.
The Tipstaff is effectively the Court's constable, and is the only officer empowered to make an arrest within the precincts of the Royal Courts of Justice in London. His ceremonial uniform, is based on that of a Victorian Metropolitan Police inspector. It is black cloth, with cloth and bullion lapel badges. The buttons are white metal featuring the Royal Coat of Arms. He wears a kepi style hat with a badge identical to those worn on the lapels, except that the word "Tipstaff" is omitted. The tipstaff itself is 12 inches long, of silver with an ebony grip, and is inscribed and dated 1884.

The badge illustrated dates from the late 1950's; the button is Victorian and backmarked "Hebbert & Co London". It has a loose shank similar to the Metropolitan Police buttons of the same period.

[Bantam]

Hi James,
Very interesting but didn't all High Court Judges have a Tipstaff to accompany them and who addressed the court before proceedings commenced ?
Regards,
Bantam

[Jamesb853]

Hi Bantam,

Yes, they did before 1875, when the higher courts were radically reformed, and the 3 old Common Law Courts were amalgamated into the new High Court. Thereafter the Tipstaff was appointed by the Lord Chancellor, and became based in London, although he could make an arrest on a bench warrant anywhere in England and Wales. His role diminished mainly because imprisonment for debt was abolished at about the same time, as he was only concerned with civil offenders. All criminal arrests were, of course, made by constables. The Tipstaff could call upon any constable to assist him in making an arrest. I well remember a case in which I was involved, where the Tipstaff arrested a recalcitrant litigant whom the High Court had just sentenced to 3 months imprisonment for contempt, and hailing a taxi outside the RCJ to take him and his charge to HMP Pentonville.