Original British Comb Top Queen’s Crown Bobby Helmet from the West Yorkshire Police- Size 58 – Formerly Part the Tower of London Yeoman Warders Club Collection Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. IMA recently acquired a collection of headgear from the Yeoman Warders (aka “Beefeaters”) Club located at the Tower of London. The club has a strict policy of allowing only members of the Yeoman Warders and their guests entry. It has become a tradition over the years for visiting guests with any current or prior military or police service to leave one of their pieces of headgear. Over the years this collection has grown too large, leaving the Warders to liquidate the collection to IMA! Making this quite an exclusive offering!

The Traditional Bobby helmet was named after the creator of the British Police Force, SIR ROBERT PEEL, who became Prime Minister under Queen Victoria. This version, known as a “Comb Top”, replaced the earlier “ball top” and “rose top” helmets used in many areas. The pattern features a pronounced ridge on the top of the helmet, which is capped off by a silvered fitting of some simple designs.

The front Helmet plate has a “Queens’s Crown” to top, over a star burst, with WEST YORKSHIRE / POLICE in a blue enameled circle. The “Queen’s Crown” indicates issue sometime after 1952, when Queen Elizabeth II assumed the throne. Based on the design, label and the marking on the inside, this helmet dates to around 1982.

The helmet interior had the suspension system, chinstrap and lining removed, exposing the hard foam interior. The sweatband and brow pad is still present, as well as the size label; 7 ⅛ (56). There are a few graffiti markings on the foam, some of which would be considered inappropriate.

In very nice overall condition and ready to display.

West Yorkshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, England. It is the fourth largest territorial police force in England and Wales by number of officers.

West Yorkshire Police was formed in 1974, when part of the West Yorkshire Constabulary (itself created in 1968, and covering a much larger area) was amalgamated with the Leeds City Police and Bradford City Police, under the Local Government Act 1972. The force was originally known as the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police. Some older signs around the Force area, such as the one in the reception of Millgarth Police Station in Leeds city center, read ‘West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police’. The ‘Metropolitan’ from the police title was dropped in 1986 when the Metropolitan counties were abolished. Proposals made by the Home Secretary on 21 March 2006 would see the force merge with North Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police and Humberside Police to form a strategic police force for the entire region. This did not take place.

On 12 December 2006, Sir Norman Bettison was announced as the new chief constable, replacing Colin Cramphorn and resigned from his post on 24 October 2012. He was replaced by Temporary Chief Constable John Parkinson until the appointment of Mark Gilmore as chief constable on 1 February 2013.

In 2018, it was reckoned West Yorkshire Police would lose 400 officers from its 4,800 officers due to austerity.