West Midlands Police Museum: Fun to be had this half-term
22 October 2024
West Midlands Police Federation members are invited to enjoy some Halloween family fun and uncover nearly 200 years of policing heritage over October half-term at the county’s two police museums.
Special events are being held at West Midlands Police Museum, housed at the Lock-Up on Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham, and Coventry Police Museum, located at Coventry Council House, over the week commencing 28 October.
Helen Taylor, who oversees the day-to-day running of both exhibitions, said: “The half-term week will be a great opportunity to immerse yourself in all of our region’s history with policing while taking part in some events and activities we will have on for a limited time only.
“These are always a big hit with the kids, who we put a lot of effort into engaging with, but I have seen the adults get just as enthralled on many an occasion.
“It’s a real opportunity to spend some quality family time while in an educational setting and I would encourage everyone to come down and see what we have going on.”
Special events are being held at the West Midlands and Coventry Police Museums this half term.
Headline attractions at West Midlands Police Museum include the chance to solve a ghostly mystery through an interactive ‘whodunnit’-style trail, where visitors can follow QR codes to get to the bottom of the disappearance of the museum’s Cookie the Cat.
Another interactive trail will require participants put their forensic skills to the test as they investigate an imagined burglary incident.
Meanwhile, Coventry Police Museum will host a pumpkin trail, with a variety of prizes on offer for successful finders.
Younger visitors can also look forward to dressing up in police uniform and having their fingerprints taken on an inkpad at both establishments.
As well as these focused activities, the museums can still be enjoyed in their general year-round capacity during half-term week, with a number of fascinating displays ready to be taken in and friendly staff and volunteers always on hand with information – including many former police officers with stories from their career.
Exhibitions
Both exhibitions are enjoying new eras in their existence, with each having found new permanent locations in the last two years after periods of uncertainty. Coventry Police Museum was reopened to the public in a ceremony last month.
Helen added: “The teams we have who keep the things ticking over are amazing and the museums are lucky to have them. I love the fact that we have a number of ex-officers involved, because it gives them that chance to keep giving something to their profession after they have retired.
“And it’s a similar principle for any visitors we get who are current police officers, I think – they can switch off from the responsibilities of work, but at the same time, remind themselves of why they do what they do, because policing is a public service full of history, dedication and honour.”
For half-term week, West Midlands Police Museum is extending its usual opening days of Wednesday to Sunday to welcome visitors every day, all the way through from Monday 28 October to Sunday 3 November. Opening hours remain 10am to 4pm, with last admission at 2pm.
Tickets can be purchased from the museum’s website, set at £10 for adults and £6 for children aged between 3 and 15 – kids under 3 are granted free admission – and a visit time of at least two hours is recommended.
Coventry Police Museum will open its doors on their usual Thursday and Friday slots, from 10am to 2pm. Admission for all visitors is free.
Blue Light discounts are available at West Midlands Police Museum upon the production of a valid Blue Light Card.
READ MORE: Fed officials meet with Coventry MP.
