THE decision to phase out the traditional police helmet in the Thames Valley has provoked a fierce debate.

But the custodian helmet we all know is by no means the only one that officers have worn over the years.

These pictures show a wide range of headgear for men and women in the force.

The custodian helmet was first worn by the Metropolitan Police in London in the 1860s and has been a familiar sight throughout the country since then.

But Thames Valley Police has decided it is no longer appropriate for modern use.

Chief Supt Brendan O’Dowda, Oxfordshire’s police commander, said: “If you get in a fight or are chasing someone, the helmet is the first thing that goes and it provides very little protection to your head.”

However, former officers and the Police Federation have spoken out about the change, arguing that it will be hard to distinguish policemen from others in authority.