File:Sutherland Constabulary (2301513731).jpg

1,000 views on 10th October 2013

In common with most other police forces, Sutherland would have reviewed their badges upon the death of Queen Victoria. Police insignai had grown and developed from nothing durign her reign, and her demise after such a long period on the throne produced heraldic concern. Many forces had the Victorian crown on their helmet badges (as did Sutherland, albeit a wee one atop the wildcat rather than a huge one on top of the whole badge - see my Inverness Burgh Helmet Plate for an example). Getting new badges with the King's (a.k.a. Imperial) Crown was one option, but were helmets still essential? Many a force instead opted for a revision of headgear, either the shako (kepi/peaked pillbox) or ordinary peaked cap, sicne these were already in use by the military, and cost would be considerably less.

But what to use as a cap device/badge? The Helmet plate was too large (and expensive), so the Chief Constable of Sutherland, Malcom Macdonald, would have nequired of his former force (Inverness-shire) what they were planning. The Chief of inverness-shire was of course none other than Alexander McHardy, previously Chief Constable of Sutherland, so they seem to have put their heads together and the same design was chosen by both, the only difference being the wording (County name).

Doubtless it would have been economically good sense, to combine the order for Inverness-shire's 60-odd with Sutherlands' dozen.