Exhibition Open Evening: Police & The Public

Some of the earliest forms of policing can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period, but our understanding of policing today was greatly impacted by the formation of the Metropolitan police in London 1832.

This exhibition focuses on early policing from the 1830s to the end of the century, exploring themes of authority and power. We will explore early policing methods, duties of constables and Night Watchmen within the context of the Chartists movement, which was a protest for the male working-class vote. Stepping back in time into a 19th century constable’s office to reveal the tools of their trade and their presence in the public eye.

The exhibition opening evening will include light refreshments, alongside a short Curator’s Talk at 7pm delivered by the volunteer curatorial team behind the exhibition. The talk will explore both the themes of the exhibition and the volunteers’ experience of researching, developing and installing the project as part of the Collections in Focus programme.

This special opening event offers the opportunity to:

• Be amongst the first to experience the exhibition

• Meet the volunteer curatorial team behind the project

• Explore the museum after hours

• Learn more about the stories, research and collections featured within the exhibition

About Collections in Focus

Police and the Public is the first exhibition developed through Collections in Focus, a structured year-long volunteer curatorial programme at Bradford Police Museum funded through Museum Development North’s Creative Professional Development Grant.

The programme brings volunteers together to collaboratively research, develop and deliver public exhibitions using a professional exhibition framework and live museum collections. Across three major projects, volunteers gain hands-on experience in:

• research and collections work

• storytelling and interpretation

• exhibition design and installation

• audience engagement

• creative and digital skills

Rather than traditional volunteering, Collections in Focus gives participants the opportunity to contribute directly to real public-facing exhibitions while building confidence, practical experience and transferable skills within a supportive team environment.

About Bradford Police Museum

Bradford Police Museum is housed within the city’s former Victorian police station, courthouse and cells. Run primarily by volunteers, the museum cares for and shares the history of policing, crime and justice in Bradford through tours, exhibitions, educational work and public events.

Through projects such as Collections in Focus, the museum aims to open up its collections in new ways, support volunteer development, encourage community participation and create opportunities for people to engage more deeply with Bradford’s social history and heritage.

The exhibition will run from Saturday 20th June until Saturday 26th September 2026 and will be included within the standard museum tour ticket.