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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »