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 »
Using a truncheon for self-defence in the UK is another one of those subjects that isn’t entirely black and white. It is very much situation dependent. Dependent on if your truncheon could be proved to be an offensive weapon in the specific circumstances. Dependent on your intent and where you were when you used it… Read More »
People often ask is it legal to buy a truncheon in the UK. Or for that matter, is it legal to sell one? Or own one? ‘Truncheon’ is a term often used interchangeably with ‘baton’, and for this, it’s important to know exactly what we are talking about when we say truncheon. By truncheon, we… Read More »
Crime Files delves into the archives of the West Midlands Police Museum, which has a collection of artefacts and photographs charting the development of the police through the ages. This week, we look at the story of the policeman’s best friend – his trusty truncheon. Before the days of handguns or stun guns, all police… Read More »
This article about an antique police truncheon first appeared in the Antiques Trade Gazette. A very early antique police truncheon up at auction on July 25 was more about the short arm of the law than long. The village constable’s staff of office made in 1804 is just 7in (18cm) long. It was found in… Read More »
Is it legal to carry a wooden truncheon in the UK? Is a wooden truncheon an offensive weapon? [Editorial note: this article was written in 2021, please read it in conjunction with >this article< from 2023 which cites amendments.] These are questions that crop up from time to time and the answer is not black… Read More »
What type of wood are police truncheons made from? We are often asked what type of wood old British police truncheons were made from. As there were quite a few manufacturers of police truncheons, and they were made for the police for well over a hundred years, there isn’t a single answer. They are almost… Read More »
The traditional police truncheon. The British police used the classic-design wooden truncheons for a very long time. They don’t use this traditional type any more. Not since the mid-1990s. Before the days of handguns or stun guns, all police officers had to defend themselves with were wooden truncheons. The truncheon could be used to “strike,… Read More »