How Police Museum keeps TV shows going straight
Crime Reporter A CITY museum has become an ‘advisor’ for top TV and movie productions who call on its expertise of policing and crime.
The Glasgow Police Museum, who are based in the Merchant City’s Bell Street, have been contacted by countless producers over the years for guidance on productions.
Recently the museum, which is run by retired police officers including former Glasgow inspector Alastair Dinsmor, has helped in productions including the hit BBC mockumentary Scot Squad and the Peter Manuel drama In Plain Sight which starred Martin Compston as the serial killer.
Alastair, who is chairman of the Glasgow Police Heritage Society, said: “We have helped with a number of TV and movie productions by renting out old uniforms and other items in our collection.
“If the producers are doing research for their show, they want stories or background into various things, and we also provide that.”
Alastair explained that Scot Squad requested several items for their new season which they are currently filming around the city.
The BBC show, which features River City’s Jordan Young and wrestling star Grado, focuses on a fictional Scottish police force and pokes fun at cop documentaries such as Road Wars and Police Interceptors.
Alastair and his team at the museum provide expertise to shows such as Scot Squad in relation to the police uniform and badge, and they ensure it is correct for the era in dramas such as In Plain Sight which was set in the 1950s.
In Plain Sight, which was a dra- ma based on serial killer Peter Manuel and his crimes, even provided an influx of visitors to the museum who wanted to know more of the story after it aired on ITV last year.
Alastair said: “I try to watch the shows to see if they got it right.
“People coming to the museum were definitely more interested in the Peter Manuel case after that show.
“The story is a horror movie itself and he was a psychopath who had aura of importance.
“He imagined himself as an Al Capone character, there are lot of facets to him which fascinate people in different ways.”
The Evening Times reported yesterday that The Scottish Police Museum, which is free but relies on donations, is encouraging Glaswegians to pay them a visit over the summer holidays.
For more information, visit http://www.policemuseum.org. uk/