A POLICE force is selling an historic numberplate which was first registered to its Chief Constable's car in 1903.
The historic AJ1 vehicle registration mark was the first registration number issued in the North Riding of Yorkshire and was assigned to North Yorkshire Police's Chief Constable Major Sir Robert Bower’s Argyll car.
The plate is no longer in use and North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan and Chief Constable Lisa Winward have agreed to sell the AJ1 mark commercially with the money raised invested in two projects.
The first will be to support work improving the memorial garden at the police headquarters in Northallerton.
The second project would be to invest in community road safety with a new ‘AJ1 Project’ fund.
Parish Councils and community organisations will be invited to submit bids for small road safety projects and schemes funded by the new fund will be asked to display a replica AJ1 sign with information on how it was funded.
Ms Mulligan said: “North Yorkshire residents tell me they want to ensure as much investment as possible goes into making them safe and feel safe.
"The historical link of the AJ1 registration is important to North Yorkshire, but the plate is worth a considerable amount of money, which I believe could be better spent.
“The two projects we aim to support have been carefully chosen.
Julia Mulligan
"By investing in the memorial garden at North Yorkshire Police headquarters, we are ensuring the sale goes towards honouring the history of the force and those who have paid the ultimate price in protecting us.
“While we also wanted to ensure the AJ1 mark lives on in North Yorkshire and, by supporting community road safety projects, we aim to protect those who use our roads and who live alongside them.”
The Memorial Garden at Alverton Court Police HQ
Speaking of the auction, Wilsons Auctions Asset Recovery Director, Aidan Larkin said: “Wilsons Auctions not only do we realise seized items on behalf of police forces across the UK and beyond, but we also have the privilege of realising some very unique police assets and AJ1 is certainly one that we are very excited about.
“Due to the historical value of this number plate we believe this will attract a large range of potential bidders, not just those with the initials A J.
"This would be highly attractive for someone from North Yorkshire or have links to North Yorkshire Police as well as car lovers who want to enhance their vehicles.
"This auction will be available to both physical and online bidders so we recommend early registration to avoid disappointment."
AJ1 is going under the hammer during a Prestige Number Plate Auction at independent auctioneers Wilsons Auctions on Thursday, June 27 at 7pm.
Online bidding will be available at
wilsonsauctions.com
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