Police Motorcycles

Woman Police Constable Lodge seated on AJS 350cc motor cycle in 1929. Also named in the article are Mrs Rosa Ashby (former Woman Police Constable in 1928); Woman Police Constables Franklin and Burnett. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 137)
Police Constable Richard Pole on Motor cycle combination DG 830, the first motor patrol at Lydney 1930. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 145)
Woman Police Constable Janet Gray on her motorcycle receiving instructions from Superintendent Shellswell at Lydney Police Station 1929. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 9895)
Police Constable Cuthbert A. Smith (Cass) on motor cycle combination DG 2652 at Lydney Police Station 1931. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 146)
Four motorcycles and side-cars dated 1938. Left to right: Police Constables Arthur Finch; Jack Greenall; unknown; Dick Pole. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 1512)
Police Constable 126 Tom Pittaway on motorcycle and side-car, reg no DG 2627, believed to be at Birdlip, in the snow 1938. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 1466)
Police Constable Jack Turner on his Rudge Whitworth Special motor cycle at Fairford Police Station in 1941. The machine was his own personal property. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 676)
Police Constable Edgar Bowering at Birdlip Police Station early 1950s. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 8179)
Police Constable D. Webb with Triumph motor cycle UDF 319 in Talbot Road 1962. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 198)
Police motorcycle and equipment in garage. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2485)
Photograph from an old negative
Police Constable J. Proctor on Triumph motor cycle SDG-606, three Police Constables on Velocette Motor cycles. Training Course Constables believed to be left to right: Roger England, (816 AAD), Norman Green (WDD 964), Ken Price (536 ADF). (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 199)
First main road motorcycle section employed solely in summer and good weather at Police Headquarters. The motorcycles are 650cc 6T Triumphs. Left to right: Police Constables Pat Pittaway, SDG 606; Des Webb, UDF 318; Bernard Sprason, UDF 320; Alan Haworth, UDF 319. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 1566)
Police Constable Ken Price with Ariel Leader motor bike making a call on his radio. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2477)
Photograph from an old negative
Police Constable Ken Price on an Ariel Leader talking to a lorry driver. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2486)
Photograph from an old negative
Police Constable Dave Thompson plus another police officer and a dog on 'DT's' personal Honda 50 c 1968. Not sure that this was an approved method of transporting police dogs. (Gloucestershire Police Archives 1967)
Police Constable Brian Bailey on 650cc Triumph Saint WDF 17J, in June 1971. This was just after the Auto Cycle Union National Rally, which is a rally style event that requires riders and teams to plan a route to check-in to a maximum number of control points, with a minimum of miles covered and get an award - Gold, Silver or Bronze accordingly. Control points open at midday on a Saturday and competitors have to check-in at the finish point, which for many years including 1971 was located at Trentham Gardens, Stoke on Trent, at the earliest at 0600hrs Sunday morning and no later than 0800hrs. In the 1960s and 1970s many Forces participated in this event. In 1971 Brian was the Top Service rider, receiving a handsome gold (plastic) cup. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 8188)
Photograph from Wendy Davenport
Inspection of the two new Triumph 650cc 'Saints' motor-cycles at rear of Headquarters. The two Motorcycles on the far right are BSA A65 650cc twins which the force were trying out but they were not a success so more Triumphs were purchased. Left to right: Police Constables Tony Hughes, Adrian Wallace, unknown, Brian Bailey .Superintendent Paul Foice, Assistant Chief Constable 'Herbie' Smith and Chief Inspector Arthur Meadows. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 1169)
BSA B25 Fleet Star Motorcycle 1972. Police Constable Neil Thomas at Ruspidge. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 3679 )
As the 1970s rolled on, the BSA motorcycle company, also owners of the Triumph motorcycle company, got into financial difficulties. Gloucestershire, like many other forces had traditionally used their 650cc Saint model, but were required to look at alternatives. One such was the Rickman Metisse, manufactured in New Milton, Hampshire and able to take a number of different engines. This was our sole example, powered by a 650cc Triumph engine, allocated to Police Constable Brian Bailey, who is seen riding it. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 7919)
One of the first batch of Honda CB200 purchased by Gloucestershire Constabulary and issued to out-stations. The later bikes had better weather protection, with a white fairing. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2208)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
BSA B25 Fleet star (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 3676)
BSA B25 Fleet star (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 3678)
In April 1976 Gloucestershire Constabulary took delivery of four new BMW R75/6 750cc motorcycles. (MFH 199P to MFH 202P) It was the first force in the region to adopt the BMW, which was seen by some at the time as a controversial purchase, as there was still an ailing UK motorcycle industry. Within 18 months all Gloucestershire Traffic department motorcycles were BMW. Left to Right; Police Constables Andy Hampton, Martyn Hillier, Roger Merrett & Peter Maunder. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2165)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
The day we put the 4 new (first) BMWs on the road, in 1976. Mr Bill Bacon, of the HOWMU ! It was always called Radio Workshops, but any official correspondence was always to the Home Office Wireless Maintenance Unit. Bill fitted radios to the cars and bikes. From left Bill Bacon, Police Constables Andy Hampton, Martyn Hillier and Traffic Sergeant Ken Hughes. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2210)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
Mike Rowles, then the Motorcycle Workshop foreman, with one of the BMW R75/7s purchased in 1977. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2270)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
Police Sergeant Colin Moore on a new BMW R80RT in 1983 (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2267)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
In with the new. The last of the BMW R80s are replaced with K-Series. 01/03/1991 A287HAD, A446LAD & A443LAD replaced by H27 - H29JAD (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2265)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
A BMW K100 motorcycle J82 CVJ, seen here at in 1992. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2167-2)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
The very first Gloucestershire BMW K100, literally fresh out of the crate. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 112)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
A posed shot for the press, in Queens Road, Cheltenham 1987. The first issue in Gloucestershire of BMW 1,000cc K100 motorcycles. Police Constables Steve Irvin and Bob Addis. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2207)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
When Gloucestershire hosted the national 2005 BikeSafe show at Cheltenham racecourse, the bikes on show included a police specification Harley-Davidson an unusual sight on the roads of the United Kingdom. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2167-1)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
As part of an European-wide road safety campaign, a German officer, from Cologne, was guided around Europe, from country to country and force to Force. Here he is on the M5 Michaelwood southbound services, with Police Sergeant 777 Colin Moore, before leaving for London via the M5/M4 (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2266)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
Workshop staff, late 1980s. Left to right Rob Stanley, Mike Rowles, Peter Davies, John Arscott (face half hidden) Pat Harris, Paul Elston, Rod Stone, Derek Teague, Dennis Woodward and Clive Morefield. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 2263)
Photograph from Martyn Hillier
BMW R1200RTP motorcycle ridden by Inspector Kevin Roseblade during an abnormal load escort 2016 (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 6868)
Photograph from Simon Edwards
BMW R1200RTP motorcycle ridden by PC Simon Ross 2009 (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 6867)
Photograph from Simon Edwards
This page was added on 29/06/2016.

Comments about this page

  • Whilst not strictly part of the Glos. Constabulary history, in reply to John Stephens, TVP were indeed the first UK police force to issue BMW motorcycles. NPP 729L was the first, issued to Pc Phil Bingham, at Reading. Their positive experience led to Gloucestershire following suit, a policy that was strongly advocated by the then HQ Traffic Sergeant, the late Ps Ken Hughes, resulting in our first four in 1976.

    By Martyn Hillier (23/11/2022)
  • Nice to see Brian Bailey. He was a regular visitor to my dad’s cafe on the A38 at Leigh. He was a good friend to my dad. I still have a pencil sketch Brian did of my dad, entitled “The World’s Ugliest Man” affectionately how he referred to my dad.. 🤭. Brian held a course at Gloucestershire College, Oxstsalls campus which I attended with my motorcycle. He was then a Sergeant but still on motorcycle. Think it was R100RT that police used then. Happy memories. Knew Dave Winstanley when he to was on motorcycle duties, later went to cars. John Harris also knew him.

    By Walter Davis (21/10/2022)
  • Magic – Fond memories. UKX 12 N BMW R75/5 Thames Valley Police, Southern Traffic Area, Taplow 1970 -7
    I think we were the first force to gradually replaace all our Triumphs and Nortons with the R75/5’s
    Thanks

    By John Stephens (31/08/2022)

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