At the request of the Chief Constables (Scotland) Association - forerunner of ACPOS - this badge was designed in 1928 by Mr Cairns, Art Teacher at Dumfries Academy.

There had been a number of mergers of police forces, each of which had tgheir own distinctive cap badge and/or helemt plate, and of course each amalgamation thus necessitated a completely new badge. This expense could well be done without, and it was envisaged that mergers would continue - as indeed they have done.

There was also a clear need for a corporate identity, which the Scottish Police Service of course now has, since all police officers in Scotland receive their basic training at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan Castle, Kincardine-on Forth, Fife.

The badge, as originally designed by Mr Cairns, consists of a Scottish Thistle flanked by thistle leaves, topped by an Imperial Crown (or "Tudor Crown", or King's Crown as it is more commonly called since it is associated with the reign of every King since 1901 when Queen Victoria died).

The whole sits upon a scroll bearing the Latin phrase "Semper Vigilo" - ALWAYS ALERT - which has become known as the Scottish Police motto.

The badge (known as the "bottle top" as it is a pressing of metal) was originally produced in white metal, but later appeared in chrome-plated finish.

While many forces adopted it immediately as their cap badge, and the City of Dundee Police actually wore it as their helmet badge, other forces were more reluctant to give up their distinctive badges, although it was generally used on official police notepaper and on police buildings the length and breadth of the country.

The City of Glasgow Police used it as the Centrepiece to their helmet plate to replace the City crest, and a number of forces also used the design as a door decal on their marked vehicles.

Officers of Inspector rank and above wore the same design but embroidered in coloured wire-thread.