Family Fun At The Police Museum

VISITORS to the Police Museum in Manchester enjoyed a rare sight of the force’s vintage car collection and took part in a range of fun-packed events and activities which included guided tours, a raffle and face painting last week.

History was brought to life with ‘Courtroom Capers’ - live performances from the force’s drama group, Stage Squad, as they recreated Victorian-style justice based on material from the museum’s extensive archives. Sniffer dogs from the force’s Tactical Dog Unit were also there to greet more than 800 visitors as they toured the museum.

Deputy chief constable, Simon Byrne, said: “It’s fantastic to celebrate mpre than 160 years of policing in Greater Manchester and the museum reaching this milestone. We can only look forward to what the next thirty years may bring.”

Over the past 30 years, the GMP museum has welcomed generations of children and visitors from all over the world. The museum was created following the force’s merger with neighbouring forces in 1974. The force wanted to preserve its historical records and items were initially displayed in a room at Longsight Police Station. This was eventually disbanded to make way for the museum on Newton Street and the rest is...history.

The museum now houses an estimated 30,000 records and is an invaluable resource to students and researchers. It offers a wealth of archive material including photographs, personnel records, annual reports and family records.

Visitors to the museum have the chance to explore Manchester’s hidden past and experience what life would have been like for officers in a Victorian police station. Generations of children have enjoyed hearing retired officers tell their story, seen where Manchester’s criminals were charged and fingerprinted, the cells where they were locked up and even the Magistrate’s Court where they would have stood in the dock.

The museum hosts regular events and workshops for schools. Details of the annual events programme can be found on the museum’s website www.gmpmuseum.co.uk.