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General Service type whistle, nickel plated brass, with a chain attached to a loop at the end, and a hook at other end of the chain. Whistle stamped with letters A.R.P. and maker's name J HUDSON & CO BARR ST. HOCKLEY BIRMINGHAM A.R.P indicates Air Raid Patrol whistle.

Formerly part of Gwent Police Museum collection

The General Service Whistle, trademarked as "The Metropolitan" by J. Hudson & Co. became standard issue for the Metropolitan Police in 1884, and thereafter in many other forces. Prior to this, although there was some limited use of whistles, police used hand rattles. Both rattles and whistles were used to call for back-up in areas where neighbourhood beats overlapped. Police whistles fell into disuse in many counties in 1969, when early hand-held radios were brought into service. With the rise of the motor car, the whistle was no longer usefully audible in urban areas. The whistle is still used by some police forces today, and engraved ceremonial versions are sometimes presented to police officers upon occasions such as their retirement.

J Hudson & Co, founded in Birmingham in 1883, had become the world's largest maker of whistles by 1927. The company received the first contract for ARP whistles in 1938. The company continues to the present day as Acme Whistles.

These whistles were standard issue to air raid wardens, and later to other Civil Defence Services before and during WW2. Over one million are believed to have been made. Of the initial contract of 221,000 whistles, 73,000 were allocated to Police Constabulary Services.

https://www.ww2civildefence.co.uk/arp-whistle-lanyard.html