Busy summer in store at West Midlands Police Museum
17 July 2025
There is plenty on offer at West Midlands Police Museum over the summer holidays with branch members welcome to enjoy various events and exhibitions.
Museum heritage manager Corinne Brazier gave the Federation a glimpse of what’s in store over the coming days and weeks at the Lock-Up, located on Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham.
The museum is set to kick the summer holidays off with an evening talk called ‘Rogues, Villains and Peaky Blinders – Criminals of the Lock-Up’ tomorrow (Friday 18 July).
Delivered by Corrine herself, the talk will explore the museum’s 125-year-spanning records to recover some of the criminals once held inside the Lock-Up, including real members of the notorious Birmingham gang the Peaky Blinders.
“The event will give a real insight into how our building used to operate as one of the city’s main holding prisons. It’s a talk I love doing and it’s been a big success with various groups and organisations in the past,” she said.
Fascinating
“As well as fascinating information and stories, you’ll be able to see authentic photographs and ledgers of ex-criminals. It should be a fantastic evening, so get yourself down here for it.”
Doors for ‘Rogues, Villains and Peaky Blinders’ will open at 5.45pm for a 6pm start, with the talk expected to last an hour. Tickets cost £10 and can be bought from the West Midlands Police Museum website.
Meanwhile, the museum will host ‘Trot on Regardless – A History of the Mounted Police’ on Monday 11 August, which will look at the role and impact of police horses within the Force.
Stefan Wild will lead the event as an expert on the topic, having served in West Midlands Police for 33 years – with 12 years spent in its mounted unit – before going on to write several short stories in his retirement about his policing career.
This includes his book ‘Longest Way Up, Shortest Way Down’, which details his experiences as on officer working with police horses.
Humour
“This event promises to be a real treat, with Stefan a very illuminating guest. He will look at the history of the mounted unit and how it’s changed over the years up until its disbandment in 1999,” Corinne added.
“As well as a wealth of knowledge, Stefan will also bring plenty of humour and anecdotes, discussing how he integrated into somewhat of an exclusive, closed shop back when he joined the unit.
“Ahead of its potential reintroduction to the Force, this is your chance to find out more about how the unit used to contribute to policing in our region.”
Tickets for ‘Trot on Regardless’ are priced at £10 and can be bought from the official event page, with doors opening at 5.30pm for a 6pm start.
Beyond specific events, West Midlands Police Museum is also hosting a ‘fashion police’ exhibition throughout the summer, focusing on the stories behind police uniforms.
Educational
Created to help ‘change perceptions of policing’ and show the evolution and progress of uniform in the Force, the exhibition has been designed alongside students from Birmingham City University’s School of Computing and School of Fashion.
Here, you’ll be able to hear from officers who wore the clothing on display, with an engaging activity trail on offer and ideal to young museum guests.
“As our schools begin to finish for the summer, why not bring your child along to our museum for a few hours of fun in an educational setting, where they can learn about our proud policing heritage in the West Midlands?” Corinne said.
“You can also learn plenty yourself about the profession you belong to – I guarantee you will leave with some brilliant knowledge of the police you weren’t aware of before.
“We’ve got so much going on, and we look forward to welcoming you and your loved ones soon.”
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