On This Day, 10 October 1916

Evening Despatch

Tuesday 10 October

INGENIOUS LAMP.

IN USE BY BIRMINGHAM POLICE ON POINT DUTY.

An ingenious “point duty” lamp for the protection of the police has been provided for the Birmingham Force, and is now in use. The lamp, which takes the place of the spike on the helmet, is fitted with a ruby glass, and the light is supplied from a dry battery carried in a pouch in the waist-belt.
This lamp, which the Chief Constable of Birmingham has been the first to adopt for the police force, has been invented by the Motor-ambulance Driver Baxter, of Birmingham, and it can be adapted to fit any headgear. The red light is seen from any point of view, and the police regard it as a distinct improvement on the former method of carrying two lamps in the belt, one in front and one behind, which, apart from disadvantages to the officer on point duty, was calculated to confuse the public whenever he was obliged to make a part turn.