Name/Title
Brighton Borough Police "A" Division truncheon c1880Entry/Object ID
90Description
Black and red painted wooden truncheon, 15.25 inches (39cm) long, with gold and red painted number "10" underneath a stylised letter "A", within a shield. The handle has a multi turned grip. No strap or maker's marks.Use
For use by a police officer for protectionContext
The earliest police truncheons tend to be 17-20 inches (43-51cm) long and are often highly decorated, usually with a crown and sometimes with the addition of a royal coat of arms. This was because in the days before police warrant or ID cards, the truncheon was the officer's badge of office and symbolised his authority from the crown for carrying out his duties.
However by the 1870s the public were well used to the concept of uniformed police and the need for such decorated truncheons declined. By 1880 warrant cards were issued as a form of ID and the truncheon became less symbolic. At the same time there was a move towards smaller 14-15inch truncheons, that could be carried in a pocket sewn into the trousers. By 1890s most police forces had discontinued decoration in favour of plain truncheons of this shorter length.
This truncheon is thought to be from Brighton Borough Police and to date from c1880. It was probably made locally given the lack of a maker's mark. It is believed to be one of a number of similar examples that were housed in a small museum in the Brighton, Wellington Road Police station public waiting room, from 1949 to1965. The "A' is thought to represent the division and the number "10" an officer's actual number. Previously there were 3 Divisions in the town, A, B and C . At the time this truncheon was used, Brighton collar numbers were only issued once so if there was a "10" in "A" Division there would not be one, in "B" or "C" Divisions.