cuffman69
#1Over the last 20 years I have managed to purchase 4 body belts as used in UK prisons.
In the 1980's there was a campaign to have the use of body belts banned in British prisons following a number of deaths of inmates whilst wearing them. As I recall at the time there were allegations of misuse and claims from prisoners that they were used as a punishment rather than a means of close restraint to protect the wearer, other inmates or staff. There were also claims that inmates could be confined for days in them. I recall that there was a TV documentary made about there use and the Government and Hiatts took something of a beating over them.
I contacted Hiatts and after much persuasions they agreed to make a body belt for me as these were normally only made to order and orders were very infrequent as they were built to last. During my discussions, the gentleman whose name now escapes me mentioned that this would probably be the last belt they would produce as the impending ban would bring their use to an end and also that the company who supplied the leather work was closing down. I was given the option to have the cuffs of my choice supplied and I opted for the 104 Darby cuffs.
The delivery time on this was 3 months and the cost was £ 120.46 which for a 20 year old in 1988 was around 1 months income.
I have two other Hiatt belts in my collect which are considerably older. One pair is fitted with Home Office Pattern cuffs and the other is fitted with older style 104's.
What I find interesting about the Home Office Pattern belt is the shape of the D lock used to secure the belt. It has the flat top hinge that is commonly seen on the Indian style repo cuffs that are all over eBay. It takes the Home Office Pattern key and is marked Hiatt Warranted Wrought and it and the cuffs which are attached to this belt all have the same serial number.
Hopefully this picture will explain what I mean. They both take Home Office Pattern keys but are quite different in shape.
Has anyone else seen this shape of D lock or even a pair of cuffs with this hinge shape manufactured by Hiatts ?
The third belt pictured here is a Baker belt. I think that the current theory is that Baker was a supplier and not a manufacturer. They cuffs and the D lock are marked Baker and the other items marked Baker that I am aware of seem to be designed for prison use rather than police. Does anyone have a pair of Baker cuffs which are connected by a swivel in the normal way? I've only seen Joes belt and I think Chris Gower has some Baker cap locks.
Having done a little research lately I was surprised to find out that body belts are still used in UK prisons so the ban talked about in the 1980's obviously didn't come into effect. I now know there is a strict protocol for there use and found some statistics online which show that the frequency of use is now very rare.
Also does any one have a body belt fitted with modern ratchet type cuffs fitted ?
Thanks,
Mark(RMP)
In the 1980's there was a campaign to have the use of body belts banned in British prisons following a number of deaths of inmates whilst wearing them. As I recall at the time there were allegations of misuse and claims from prisoners that they were used as a punishment rather than a means of close restraint to protect the wearer, other inmates or staff. There were also claims that inmates could be confined for days in them. I recall that there was a TV documentary made about there use and the Government and Hiatts took something of a beating over them.
I contacted Hiatts and after much persuasions they agreed to make a body belt for me as these were normally only made to order and orders were very infrequent as they were built to last. During my discussions, the gentleman whose name now escapes me mentioned that this would probably be the last belt they would produce as the impending ban would bring their use to an end and also that the company who supplied the leather work was closing down. I was given the option to have the cuffs of my choice supplied and I opted for the 104 Darby cuffs.
The delivery time on this was 3 months and the cost was £ 120.46 which for a 20 year old in 1988 was around 1 months income.
I have two other Hiatt belts in my collect which are considerably older. One pair is fitted with Home Office Pattern cuffs and the other is fitted with older style 104's.
What I find interesting about the Home Office Pattern belt is the shape of the D lock used to secure the belt. It has the flat top hinge that is commonly seen on the Indian style repo cuffs that are all over eBay. It takes the Home Office Pattern key and is marked Hiatt Warranted Wrought and it and the cuffs which are attached to this belt all have the same serial number.
Hopefully this picture will explain what I mean. They both take Home Office Pattern keys but are quite different in shape.
Has anyone else seen this shape of D lock or even a pair of cuffs with this hinge shape manufactured by Hiatts ?
The third belt pictured here is a Baker belt. I think that the current theory is that Baker was a supplier and not a manufacturer. They cuffs and the D lock are marked Baker and the other items marked Baker that I am aware of seem to be designed for prison use rather than police. Does anyone have a pair of Baker cuffs which are connected by a swivel in the normal way? I've only seen Joes belt and I think Chris Gower has some Baker cap locks.
Having done a little research lately I was surprised to find out that body belts are still used in UK prisons so the ban talked about in the 1980's obviously didn't come into effect. I now know there is a strict protocol for there use and found some statistics online which show that the frequency of use is now very rare.
Also does any one have a body belt fitted with modern ratchet type cuffs fitted ?
Thanks,
Mark(RMP)