West Midlands Police Museum to be relocated before station closes
POLICE chiefs say they are “absolutely committed” to reopening the West Midlands Police Museum before Sparkhill Police Station is permanently closed in the summer.
Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson and Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe both paid tribute to the museum’s former curator, ex-policeman Dave Cross, who died on December 13 after a long battle with cancer.
Mr Cross joined Birmingham City Police in 1961 and took over the role of museum curator in 1996 when it moved from Edgbaston’s Tally Ho to just behind Sparkhill Police Station, in Court Road.
Mr Jamieson said: “Dave gave truly exceptional service. He took on the work of the museum on a mostly voluntary basis and we are truly grateful for the work he did.”
Deputy Chief Constable Rolfe said the force was committed to moving the museum before the summer.
She added: “We are absolutely committed that we can replace the museum, but I can’t talk about the details of the options that are available to us at the moment.
“We want to maintain the legacy and the work that Dave did. We are looking at a number of options and we are committed to ensuring that we will relocate before the station is closed in the summer of this year.”
The museum houses the archives of West Midlands Police and its predecessors, dating back to the formation of Birmingham City Police in 1839.
But the building, which was previously open to the public via appointment, is now closed.
Last month police were forced to call in the army after an item believed to be a bomb was found during the removal of items. The device was taken away for a controlled explosion, on December 19, but was later declared to be harmless.
Experts confirmed it was not an explosive device and bomb disposal team initially took the device away for a controlled explosion, before it was decided it was inert.