Name/Title
Brighton Police painted truncheon c1860 - 1870Entry/Object ID
2548Description
Wooden painted truncheon approx 16 inches in length, with multi turned handle, decorated with a crown over the Royal coat of arms, itself over a cartouche containing "Brighton Police" painted in gold. There are the remains of a sash cord strap and some indiction that the truncheon has been reduced in length. No makers mark on butt.Use
For use by a Brighton Police officer to use as protection and as a badge of authority.Context
For much of the 19th century police officers carried decorated truncheons because they represented the authority of the Crown and were seen as a badge of office, as well as a means of self defence. As such they were often decorated with crowns, royal cyphers or royal coats of arms. It was only towards the end of the century that decorated examples gave way to plain ones.
The first police truncheons were not only decorated but also longer than later examples usually being approximately 17 inches or 43cm in length. However in the 1880s there was a move towards shorter truncheons that could be carried in special trouser pockets.
This particular truncheon would appear to date from c1860 to 1870 on the basis of its decoration which is not quite as fine as other examples from Brighton. However it is particularly interesting because it shows clear signs of having been reduced in length. The cartouche which contains the wording should extend further down and has been truncated. Also the handle appears to be narrower than you would expect. The evidence suggests that it has been reduced from the original handle end by re-turning the handle. It is known that the Metropolitan Police reduced the length of its truncheons in the 1880s and that this included shortening painted examples from the striking end. To turn from the handle end is unusual and not only involves more work but also could render the handle weaker. The only reason to do it would be to try and leave the crown decoration intact.
There is a similar truncheon from Brighton which is part of the Caffyn Collection, CC88, which appears also too have been reduced in length in the same way, suggesting that the pictured example is not a one off.
It appears that this truncheon started life longer and was probably reduced in length in the 1880s, when shorter truncheons were introduced, and that it was done via the handle to preserve the bulk of the decoration. It was used by PC George Greenyer who joined Brighton Police in 1882 and only retired in 1919, having spent the last 17 years as the police and court gaoler. It may even have been issued to him in 1882, either in its longer or reduced form. It is unlikely that it would have been used much later than the 1890s by which time much plainer truncheons were commonly used. This truncheon came directly from the Greenyer family, along with other items, including another much simpler baton that he may have used in that role.