A POLICE museum is set to apply for thousands of pounds in lottery money to improve its displays and value to schools.The Essex Police Museum, based at Force Headquarters in Springfield, Chelmsford, has taken advice from a Heritage Lottery Fund grant officer to help with its bid.
A POLICE museum is set to apply for thousands of pounds in lottery money to improve its displays and value to schools.
The Essex Police Museum, based at Force Headquarters in Springfield, Chelmsford, has taken advice from a Heritage Lottery Fund grant officer to help with its bid.
And now the organisation is to ask Essex Police Authority to guarantee its support for 15 years, as this is one of the conditions required for gaining lottery cash.
The museum was established in 1991, with the aim of bringing to the public and the police service items and documents charting the force's history.
It holds archives, which date back to 1840, when Essex Police was first established.
Some of this includes personnel, disciplinary and other records, together with more general policy documents and a large number of photographs.
But there are also details of specific inquiries and crimes, including some murder cases dating back to the last century, which researchers can access as well as members of the public.
However, it is now felt that in order to maximise the use of its collection for schools, an education consultant is needed to write a National Curriculum programme to make sure it fits in to current school courses.
In a report to Essex Police Authority, Essex Chief Constable David Stevens said that if backed by members the museum planned to bid for £50,000 lottery cash.
“The bid is an important step for the development future of the museum,” he said.
“Part of the grant will be used to purchase new display cases, as the collection is not currently being displayed in the best possible conditions, either aesthetically or in terms of conservation.
“However, the outlay of between £15,000 and £25,000 for new display cases is not an expense which the Essex Police Authority could be expected to fund.”
The police authority's planning and performance committee is set to decide whether or not to support the museum's bid on May 24.
Anybody wanting to visit the Essex Police Museum should call 01245 457150 to arrange a visit.
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