Sillitoe Tartan is the name given to the distinctive chequered pattern commonly associated with police in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and some other countries. Based on the diced bands worn by several Scottish regiments on the Glengarry, the pattern was first adopted for police use in 1932 by Sir Percy Sillitoe, Chief Constable of the City of Glasgow Police.[1]
Sillitoe Tartan may be composed of several different colours and number of rows depending on local custom, but when incorporated into uniforms or vehicle livery serves to uniquely identify emergency services personnel to the public.
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Usage by country
United Kingdom
The chequered pattern remained uniquely Scottish until 1971 when it was adopted by all British police forces. Most forces use black and white chequered hat bands, however the City of London Police is unique in that it uses distinctive red and white chequers. Blue and white chequers are also associated with the police, and may be used on vehicles and signage.
Subsequent to the launching of Battenburg markings on police vehicles in the 1980's, the police introduced retro-reflective versions of the Sillitoe tartan markings to their uniforms, usually in blue and white, rather than the blue and yellow used on vehicles.
Australia
Blue and white chequers have become the ubiquitous symbol of policing in Australia. The pattern was introduced into the country by the Commissioner of the South Australia Police in 1961, following a fact-finding tour of Glasgow in 1960.[2] The police forces of the remaining states and territories progressively adopted the pattern during the 1970s.[2]
While blue and white chequers denotes police across Australia (with the notable exception of the Australian Federal Police, which uses black and white chequers), other coloured chequered patterns may be used to denote other emergency services and particular usage varies from state to state. For example, in New South Wales (NSW) the Ambulance Service uses red and white chequers on ambulances and paramedic's uniforms, while the State Emergency Service uses orange and white Sillitoe Tartan. St. John Ambulance uses a white and green pattern on their vehicles and operational uniforms in both South Australia and Victoria.
| National patterns | ||
 |
State/Territory Police | Blue / White |
 |
Australian Federal Police | Black / White |
 |
State/Territory Emergency Service | Orange / White |
| State patterns | ||
 |
NSW: Ambulance Service Northern Territory: Fire and Rescue Service Victoria: Country Fire Authority |
Red / White |
 |
NSW: Patient Transport Service NSW: Volunteer Rescue Association South Australia and Victoria: St. John Ambulance |
Green / White |
 |
South Australia: Metropolitan Fire Service | Red / Navy |
 |
South Australia: Country Fire Service | Red / Orange |
 |
NSW: Corrective Services | Yellow / Navy |
United States
Only a few police forces in the United States, have adopted the chequered pattern: the Chicago Police Department, Cook County Sheriff's Police, Brookfield (Illinois) Police, San Ricardo Commonwealth Police and the Pittsburgh Police. The four departments use a two-row pattern, vice the three-row patern common in Europe and Australasia.
Chicago Police Department
Orlando Wilson, the then Superintendent of Police, introduced the chequered pattern to his force after a visit to Australia in the mid-1970s.[1] Chicago's pattern is dark blue and silver for patrolmen and detectives, and dark blue and gold for sergeants and higher ranks. The Chicago Police also use the pattern on some signage, graphics, and architectural detail on newer police stations.
Brookfield Police Department
The Brookfield Police follow the same color protocols as nearby Chicago.
Cook County Sheriff's Police
The Cook County Sheriff's Police use a brown and gold pattern, in keeping with their uniform colors.
Pittsburgh Department of Police
The Pittsburgh Police use a black and gold pattern, in keeping with their uniform colours. Pittsburgh's use of the tartan is in keeping with the blue and white chequerboard band across the city's coat of arms and flag, and the prominence of black and gold in the city's arms, flag, and sports teams' uniforms, inter alia.
Gallery
 Ministry of Defence police officers with Silltoe Tartan hat bands. |
 Police officers with Sillitoe Tartan on their jackets, rather than headwear. |
 New South Wales Police highway patrol vehicle with blue and white chequers. |
 Police station in New South Wales with chequered signage. |
 Police officer in New Zealand with chequered band on hat and stab vest. |
 Chicago Police officers with Sillitoe Tartan hat bands. |
 Rapid response motorbike of the NSW Ambulance Service with red/white chequers. |
 NSW State Emergency Service vehicles with orange and white chequers. |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Sillitoe Tartan". AFP National Police Memorial Steering Committee. http://www.inthelineofduty.com.au/timeline.asp?startyear=1960&iID=1042. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
- ^ a b "Know your profession". Australian Federal Police. http://www.afp.gov.au/about/publications/platypus_magazine/platypus_magazine_previous_editions/2000/march_2000/know.html. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
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