Ask a policeman. When I was a kid if we ever needed help the first person we were told to ask was the local copper. And, I occasionally did.

This week I stepped back in time when I spotted an officer on the beat and stopped to ask him a question.

Not that I needed help. If I’m honest, I was more than a little surprised to see a bobby on the beat and totally astonished he agreed to answer my question.

You see, not only was he pounding the pavement but he’d also caught my attention as he was wearing traditional copper’s clobber.

Again, stepping back to my youth, we had a nickname for officers who wore a Custodian Helmet or the ‘Home Office Pattern Helmet’, but I’m certainly not going to repeat it here, and truth be told, I was greatly impressed by the way he was turned out.

Custodian Helmets were first used by The Met in 1863 to replace top hats and other forces soon adopted them as well. They are made of cork, covered by serge-like material to match the uniform and have a leather headband to adjust the fit.

When I asked officer 13661 why so few coppers wear the traditional helmets these days, he said it’s a matter of personal choice, but personally, he loves them.

“A bobby on the beat may seem traditional, but for me officers like this, operating like this, should be the face of modern policing...”

For a start, he finds them more comfortable, though they can get a bit hot and sweaty. But just as important is the impression they create – he says the helmet makes him more visible and people react to him differently when he’s wearing one. Out and about in town, he’s treated completely differently when he’s wearing a helmet rather than a standard cap.

However, helmets are only an option for Bobbies on the beat and currently, Kent only has 55 officers in this role, although more are due to be appointed. He’s not sure how many will opt for the traditional headgear but we were in agreement that if they do they’re likely to command more respect.

Okay, as I’ve said, I appreciated the fact he was smartly turned out, but even more important was his reaction, not just to me, but to anyone else he spoke to.

A bobby on the beat may seem traditional, but for me officers like this, operating like this, should be the face of modern policing and, at a time when the force is facing a good deal of flak, this is exactly what we need – down-to-earth, approachable, genial and professional officers.

It was a pleasure to meet him on the beat and, as presence is a vital part of policing, I am honoured to be able further promote officer 13661, extol his virtues and celebrate everything he is doing for the community he serves.