About

The Essex Police Museum was first established in 1991 as a registered charity. (No.1042055)

The Museum holds objects and archival material relating to the history of the force from 1840 including personnel, disciplinary and other records, together with more general documents and a large photographic collection.

Research is carried out on behalf of the public and researches can view some of the material held with permission from the curator. The museum holds details of many murder cases, especially those from the last century. Some material has also been deposited at the Essex Record Office at Chelmsford where it can be viewed.

Why does Essex Police have a Museum?

The Museum will help to preserve the history of Essex Police and provide its visitors with information on how Essex Police has developed to become what it is today.

Most people don't find out about the police unless they are victims of crime or they have been arrested. In the atmosphere of the museum visitors have the chance to discover what the police do and how the service has changed since 1840.

Refurbishment

Essex Police Museum has recently undergone major changes, thanks to a £43,000 grant awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The projects had three main aims:

• To completely refurbish the museum with new display cases, displays, plasma screen and audio tour guide.
• To ensure the museum is accessible to the general public on a regular basis . (We are now open Wednesdays 1pm to 4.30pm)
• To develop an education programme based on the national curriculum (history and citizenship) to encourage schools to use the museum as a teaching resource.

The Museum was closed for refurbishment from March 2005 until the grand reopening on September 10th 2005.

The future of the museum looks exciting. Already in the last five years our visitor figures have doubled and we are becoming well known amongst children groups especially the Scouts and Guides associations.

Our thanks go to the Heritage Lottery fund for their support - without it the project would never have been possible.