We have had a whirlwind weekend full of festive cheer, with over 250 guests meeting Santa in our first ever Grotto! Christmas Crafts Families visited Mrs Claus’ workshop to get crafty with Christmas decorations – creating reindeer’s with chocolate noses to hang upon their trees, and mini-trees from those pesky bits of spare wrapping paper! …
Unlocked Stories: Sergeant in slippers
Imagine yourself, readying for the graveyard shift, perhaps enjoying a coffee before you pop your boots on, when through your window you spot something lighting up the sky… Sgt. Keith Charles hadn’t even pulled his boots on when he rushed out his house to tackle a fire blazing on Alum Rock Road that threatened a …
The police forces of the West Midlands have had a number of ‘mascots’ over the year; often encouraging children to be safe and offer them advice. Roger, the safety car, is held in high esteem here at the museum after many years teaching school children across the region about road safety. But do you remember …
Fashion Police – a look back in time
On Tuesday (12 Nov), we welcomed guests from the force, Birmingham City University (BCU), and youth organisations, to a heritage-themed fashion show displaying 11 different police uniforms from across the years. The fashion show was a collaboration between the Museum and BCU students in the gaming, digital, and fashion schools, funded by Heritage Fund UK. …
Merry Policemas! Christmas Card Competition Winner
Earlier this year our Engagement Officer challenged local schools to create a Christmas card design ready for the festive season. The entries were unique, inspired, and in some cases rather hilarious! Deciding a winner was no easy task – with each staff member selecting their favourites and discussing at length who the overall winner should …
Lifetime Achievement Award: Rani Gundhu QPM
Never give up hope that the world can be a better place, keep focussed and surround yourself with positive souls. For no candle loses it’s light by lighting another candle. It can only get brighter. Rani Gundhu Visitors to our museum may recognise the face of Rani; welcoming guests with an infectious energy and being …
The memories of fallen officers live on
The years may pass but the memories of our fallen heroes are never forgotten. Former police staff who made the ultimate sacrifice are immortalised within an area of remembrance at our Lloyd House headquarters, and within a tribute at the West Midlands Police Museum. It enables loved ones, the policing family and wider public to …
Diary of a Heritage Manager – Memorials
The Roll of Honour is very special to us at the museum. I first got involved with the Roll of Honour in 2015, when I was working in Estates and volunteering with the museum. In the museum in Sparkhill, there were 15 filing cabinets full of Birmingham City Police and West Midlands Constabulary files. I …
New Coventry Police Museum opens
We’re delighted to have opened our new Coventry Police Museum within the heart of the city centre. It has been opened today (4 September) within Coventry City Council House and contains a range of information, images and historical items. A number of guests including our Chief Constable Craig Guildford, the Police and Crime Commissioner Simon …
Unlocked Stories : Award Winning Mounted Police
In 1840 the first seven horses were added to Birmingham Police and whilst some would be used to escort prisoners or royal visits, they were mostly reserved for ceremonial duties. It wasn’t until Chief Constable Sir Charles Haughton Rafter established the Birmingham City Police Mounted Section in 1923 that horses and their riders became a …
Diary of a Heritage Manager – The evolution of Operations
From Cappers Commandos to specialist, highly trained units This year I’ve been fascinated to learn about the history of the various different teams that make up the West Midlands Police Operations Department. This department is currently headed by Chief Superintendent Sarah Burton and includes teams such as Firearms, Operational Support Unit (OSU), Drones, Planning, Roads …
Diary of a Heritage Manager – Happy Birthday West Midlands Police!
This month marked the exact anniversary of West Midlands Police turning 50. So rather than choose a specific theme to highlight, we’ve taken a look back at the early days of the force and some of the key events that marked its development. As the clock turned midnight into 1April 1974, police officers across the …
1974 marks the year that West Midlands Police was formed – it’s also the year that Stephen Lawrence was born in south-east London. At 18 Stephen had ambitions to attend university to become an architect, tragically however his life was cut short by an unprovoked racial attack. On 22nd April 1993, Stephen was murdered whilst …
Diary of a Heritage Manager – Diversity part two
Earlier this week, I began talking about the very broad topic of diversity. Here’s part two, as diversity understandably has several very unique strands that all warrant a mention in their own right. Sexuality In the early 1970s it was something that wasn’t spoken about at all. Gay and lesbian officers went to great lengths …
Unlocked Stories: Tackling Forced Marriages
DS Trudy Gittins shared with us her first hand story of tackling the first FMPO case in the West Midlands, and first regarding an adult male in the country. DS Trudi Gittins, with a victim of forced marriage. What is forced marriage? A forced marriage is very different to an arranged marriage. An arranged marriage …
