The wooden police truncheon, often referred to as a “Bobby’s truncheon,” carries a rich history and multifaceted appeal that goes beyond its original function as a weapon. These traditional British-style truncheons, whether original or expertly reproduced, captivate the imaginations of collectors, theatre groups, and even police forces seeking retirement gifts for officers. In this article,… Read More »
We were asked a question recently about wooden truncheons and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. This came into force on the 14th of July 2021. This section made amendments to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 which we have wrote about before. We were asked specifically about Section 66, Part 4, Annex A – list of offensive… Read More »
In the realm of law enforcement, the British wooden police truncheon holds a unique place in history. Once a formidable tool used by British police officers to maintain law and order, these traditional batons have now become sought-after collectibles. In this article, we look at some of the reasons why people are drawn to these… Read More »
Why do police truncheons have a leather strap? Both modern and old police truncheons have a strap on. They’re called a lanyard. Some call them a retention strap or a wrist strap. On modern truncheons, they are often made of nylon, on proper old-style wooden truncheons they are usually leather. But why do police truncheons… Read More »
In this article, we are going to look at wooden truncheons in the context of offensive weapons as described in the UK Prevention of Crime Act 1953 and see how they may be interpreted. As many other articles on the site explain, if one is trying to establish if wooden truncheons are offensive weapons, it… Read More »
This article on the end of the police truncheon first appeared in the Independent on the 18th May 1994. Howard signals end of the road for truncheon: The Police Federation annual conference. The Home Secretary, Michael Howard, yesterday signalled the death of one of the enduring symbols of the British bobby – the truncheon. He… Read More »
Wooden police truncheon UK: If you’re looking for a wooden police-style truncheon of the classic design in the UK, you’ve found them! You can’t buy a truncheon on Amazon. You can’t buy a truncheon on Etsy. You can’t buy a truncheon on eBay. But you can buy them from us. Find out more >>here<<. Nobody… Read More »
When did the police stop using wooden truncheons? This is one of those questions that some people hadn’t noticed that they don’t anymore. They also don’t wear the tall helmets anymore. Until the mid-1990s, British police officers carried traditional wooden truncheons of a sort that had changed little from Victorian times. Until the mid-1990s, most British police… Read More »
Can I buy a baton in the UK? This is another question that people often ask Google, and another question that the top result on Quora is misleading at first glance. We need to define the word baton in order to explain. The Collins Dictionary tells us it can be a “short heavy stick which is sometimes… Read More »
Are truncheons legal in the UK? This is a subject that there is some misleading information on Google about, predictably sourced from Quora. A classic wooden police-style truncheon is perfectly legal to own in the UK. It is not an offensive weapon by definition in UK law, in and of itself. It is not an… Read More »