Cheshire Museum of Policing awarded £8.3k donation by Chief Constable

The Museum of Policing, which preserves and researches the heritage of policing in Cheshire, is set to receive a £8,300 donation as part of an initiative to support worthwhile county-based charities and organisations.

At the start of this week, Chief Constable Mark Roberts announced that £50k was set to be donated across six Cheshire-based charitable organisations, whose work helps protect and safeguard the vulnerable and provide education and community engagement for local residents. 

This £50k worth of donations is Chief Constable Roberts' way for the Constabulary to give back to the good people of Cheshire it serves and protects every day. 

So far this week, over £41k worth of donations have been made on behalf of the Constabulary to the South Cheshire Amateur Boxing Club in Crewe, the county-wide Rape and Sexual Assault Support Centres (RASAC), Youth Fed, Warrington Youth Zone and the veterans support charity Forces Employment. 

On this, the final day of the Chief Constable's Christmas initiative, Chief Constable Roberts presented volunteers from the Cheshire Museum of Policing with a cheque for £8,300 to reward their efforts in supporting and engaging with the local community and preserving the force's upstanding reputation. 

Based on Arpley Street, Warrington, and housed within the walls of Warrington Police Station, the Cheshire Museum of Policing is a fully-registered charity funded by donations and run entirely by volunteers.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts said: 

"This past week, we have been spreading Christmas cheer by donating £50k to six worthy organisations who, like me, want to give back to the people of Cheshire, and it has been fantastic meeting them and hearing their stories. 

"Cheshire Constabulary has been keeping the county a hostile environment for crime for over 160 years and, as the force has such a rich and diverse history, somewhere was needed to document and preserve the countless police artefacts attained over the years for future generations. 

"The Museum is a brilliant example of this - it has captured the attention of so many from all over for nearly two decades and will only continue to flourish with the commitment shown by its wonderful volunteers.

“Not only does it preserve the Constabulary’s heritage, but it is a fantastic way for us to engage with the local community who we serve and introduce young people to the force in a welcoming and positive environment. It’s court room has also featured many times on Coronation Street. 

"As a token of my appreciation, and on behalf of Cheshire Constabulary, it is a pleasure to donate £8,300 that will hopefully assist with their initiatives moving forward into the New Year." 

Museum Manager Peter Hampson, added: 

"It is a great honour to receive the grant as an endorsement that the Chief Constable values what we do. 

“The grant will help us support the hundreds of children across the county who come to visit us for educational trips to learn more about their local force, along with the members of our local community who pass through our doors for numerous engagement events.

“The money will also go towards conservation of items in our extensive collection. This is important, as if we do not maintain valuable artefacts in good condition, they will deteriorate. 

“We really cannot thank the Chief Constable enough for the support. We will be mindful of how the money is spent to ensure it is used according to best practice.” 

Opening its Tardis-style doors into a 19th-century police station in 2006, the museum welcomes thousands of visitors from all over the country through its door every year, with new force recruits, retired senior officers, schools and even ghost hunters taking a trip back in time to see how the county was policed in bygone years.  

A trip to the Museum includes a chance to hop aboard one of the force's former squad cars and motorbikes, as well as an opportunity to try on helmets and uniforms previously used by officers. 

Visitors can also expect to find a number of policing artefacts including vehicles, weapons, and investigative tools used to tackle crime in Cheshire over the force’s long history. 

More information about the museum, which is funded entirely through public donations, here: 

visit the Museum of Policing website

... or call 01606 365803. 

Pictured - Will, Peter and the Chief Constable.