Dewsbury Borough Police info please

[billy4294]

This is probably one for you Dave. Do you know the strength of Dewsbury force? because there seems to be quite a lot of senior officer badges to this force on the market. Is there anything I should be aware of to identify a fake?
Re the other ranks cap badges. I notice most of these seem to be solid centre, but I have seen just one which was voided (round cap badge) Are the non voids ok?
Thanks
billyh

[oc14]

Originally Posted by billy4294

This is probably one for you Dave. Do you know the strength of Dewsbury force? because there seems to be quite a lot of senior officer badges to this force on the market. Is there anything I should be aware of to identify a fake?
Re the other ranks cap badges. I notice most of these seem to be solid centre, but I have seen just one which was voided (round cap badge) Are the non voids ok?
Thanks
billyh

Billy

Dewsbury Borough Police had a strength of approximately 90 all ranks. My father served with the force as PC61 from 1952 until 1970. The force was absorbed into West Riding Constabulary circa 1967/68. I can’t imagine that there were more than around half a dozen senior officers at any one time. During his service my dad only ever wore helmets (he had two, one with chrome plate and “comb” fittings and another with a black plate and fittings for night duty). I believe that hats were only ever worn by traffic officers. I have a cap badge somewhere that he acquired from the stores when the force changed, it is definitely voided.
I suspect that most of the senior officers cap badges and unvoiced badges were made for the collectors market.
Hope that helps

Paul

[altcar73]

Originally Posted by billy4294

This is probably one for you Dave. Do you know the strength of Dewsbury force? because there seems to be quite a lot of senior officer badges to this force on the market. Is there anything I should be aware of to identify a fake?
Re the other ranks cap badges. I notice most of these seem to be solid centre, but I have seen just one which was voided (round cap badge) Are the non voids ok?
Thanks
billyh

At the time of their demise on the 1st October 1968, the final strength of the force was 122. The senior officers were:-

Chief Constable R. Harrison,
Superintendent & Dep. Ch. Const. S. Boothroyd.
Ch. Insp. R. H. Rhodes.
Chief Clerk. Insp. K. Henshaw.
Inspectors J.F. Kelk., J.B. Wild., and K. Butler.
C.I.D. Detective Inspector J. F. Brook.

The issued Senior Officer cap badges were made in two parts. The backing star and the blue ringed circle. The circle is sweated to the backing star and is and should always be VOIDED. The solid centre one piece stamped blue ringed cap badges which are commonly seen are modern reproductions.

With regard to the other ranks cap badge these were commonly voided in the centre. However, the force had (for some reason) one batch of these badges produced with a solid centre. This was probably a mistake by the manufacturers. These (there were very few) were used by the force and will normally show signs of wear. Avoid anything very bright and shiny as these are also being reproed.

The original officers cap badges are quite heavy and well made and are seldom seen these days.

Dave.

[billy4294]

Thank you Paul. That is a great help. I had a general idea that the force wouldn't have been big enough for the high volume of 'senior officer' badges that are on the market.
Thanks
billyh

[billy4294]

Thank you Dave. Excellent bit of info.
Billyh