Collar Number SW12

[Bridewell]

Does anybody know what was denoted by the letters SW on a London police officer's collar in the LVP? The reason I ask is that I have come across a Carte de Visite currently on sale, taken by a Pimlico photographer, of a young man in police uniform wearing the collar number SW12. Might this be the officer who attended the Stride murder, but whilst stationed on another division? My hunch is that officers retained the same collar number throughout their service, but that the divisional letter changed when they moved. Is that right? If so what would SW signify?

(Apologies for taking up a thread with this, but nothing else seemed to fit).

[Monty]

Hi Colin,

What makes you sure its a Met man?

Collar numbers can change, its the warrant number that stays. Watkins number had changed which drew confusion with PC Sturgeon, so the collar is not always reliable.

SW may, and I stress may, have been South Wales. Hence my original question.

Monty

[Bridewell]

Hi Colin,

What makes you sure its a Met man?

Collar numbers can change, its the warrant number that stays. Watkins number had changed which drew confusion with PC Sturgeon, so the collar is not always reliable.

SW may, and I stress may, have been South Wales. Hence my original question.

Monty

Hi Monty,

Thank for taking the time to reply. The only thing which made me suggest it was a Met man was the fact that the photograph was taken in Pimlico. I'll PM you with the link, if I may.

[Monty]

Sure Colin,

No probs.

Monty