Lancashire Police Museum celebrates 100,000 visitors and fourth anniversary
The free museum, based inside a former prison wing at Lancaster Castle, opened in May 2022.
Lancashire Police Museum is celebrating its fourth anniversary after welcoming its 100,000th visitor.
The museum, which is housed within a former prison wing at Lancaster Castle, was launched in May 2022 and has continued to grow in popularity.
Since opening, it has been shortlisted for several prestigious local visitor awards, hosted Royal visitors and recently reached the milestone of 100,000 visitors.
The museum has 16 exhibits exploring the history of Lancashire Police.
Visitors can learn about police training, forensic development and recruitment, as well as enjoying interactive displays on crime and custody.
There is also the chance for visitors to see what they would look like in police uniform.
The museum also hosts education visits for schools, colleges and university students, and offers free talks on various crime-related subjects.
Entry is free, and the museum is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm, with some additional opening days during school holidays.
It is staffed by volunteers.
Museum Co-ordinator Sabine Skae said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating our fourth anniversary and we’ve absolutely loved welcoming so many visitors through our doors.
“We’ve had tens of thousands of visitors of all ages, but we’ve also welcomed over 6,000 school, college and university students on organised tours.
“We’ve also enjoyed putting on special events including craft activities and quizzes during the school holidays as well as specialist talks by serving and retired police officers.
“It’s been a pleasure to share Lancashire Police’s rich history with our visitors but also to talk to people about the challenges of present-day policing as well as current career opportunities, of which there are many.
“We’ve researched and created a new display on the Morecambe Bay cockle pickers tragedy, Operation Lund, and we’re working on a new display on forensics which will hopefully open this year.”
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said reaching 100,000 visitors was an “incredible achievement”.
He said: “To hit the milestone of 100,000 visitors is an incredible achievement and shows the value of what is being delivered by Sabine and her team of volunteers.
“It’s a fantastic tool to engage with residents from across Lancashire and beyond and to build relationships between our police force and the communities it serves.
“As we rightly celebrate the museum’s fourth anniversary, I’d encourage anyone who has yet to visit what is an impressive facility, to see for themselves why so many have already made the trip to Lancaster Castle.”
Anyone wishing to visit the museum can find out more at lancashirepolicemuseum.co.uk or follow Lancashire Police Museum on Facebook and Instagram.
The museum also runs a free education service focusing on crime and punishment and changes in policing as a local history study.