Where
In the northern quarter of Manchester city centre, two minutes’ walk from Piccadilly railway station. “We’re in what was a Victorian police station – it was built in 1879,” says museum officer Claire Mayle. “We have an old, blue police lamp outside.”
What
The museum was created following the amalgamation of the Salford City and Manchester City police forces to form Greater Manchester Police in 1974, so it has a lot of material relating to these forces.
Opened
When it opened in 1981, the museum retained some functions of a working police station. Its enquiry desk remained until 1998, when the museum took over the whole building.
Collection
Exhibits include Victorian cells with wooden pillows, a court room and duty desk. Galleries showcase police uniforms, transport and the career of Jerome Caminada, who rose through the ranks to become head of Manchester’s CID at the end of the 19th century.
One of the most unusual artefacts is a Strangeways cell door that was damaged in the prison riot of 1990. The museum also has an archive of more than 50,000 items, including photographs and police officers’ personnel records, dating from the 19th century.
Help at hand
A full-time museum officer, curator, and learning and outreach assistant. There is a team of 24 volunteers, mostly former police officers.
Budget
The museum is funded by Greater Manchester Police. The learning and outreach assistant is funded externally.
Visitors
10,000 in 2009.
Highlights
“The cells are so atmospheric and dank,” says Mayle. “And the markings on the Strangeways door tell a story.”
Sticky moment
“Some positive media coverage led to a huge surge in visitor figures and there were bottlenecks in the museum,” says Mayle. There have been a few near misses with visitors locking themselves in handcuffs.
Survival tip
“Making the museum relevant to visitors is essential,” says Mayle. “Our museum has visible welcome sheets and feedback forms, and we take note of what people tell us.” The museum added a pram store and cloakroom after a visitor suggested them.
Future projects
The museum is restoring, classifying and reinterpreting its collection. It plans to turn a storeroom into an education and conference space.