Police museum closes for winter after busy tourist season

A popular visitor attraction that shines a spotlight on the boys, and girls, in blue has closed after a successful summer season.

The Tayside Police Museum in Kirriemuir will reopen in April 2019, although there is still the opportunity for prearranged group visits to take place over the winter months.

Located in the same building as the existing police office in Reform Street, the museum charts the history of policing in Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross from the early 1800s to the present day.

Some of the more grisly exhibits include an early 20th Century bench used for corporal punishment, homemade weapons including a golf ball filled with nails, and a display of items seized at football matches.

It also acknowledges the role of the Tayside Police Search and Rescue Team.

A spokesman said: “Our volunteers would like to thank the hundreds of visitors that we welcomed this past year.

“Although closed to ‘passing traffic’ we can facilitate group visits over the next few months as long as we’re given a little bit of advanced warning.”

The museum opened in 2013 to provide a base to display the records of the region’s police to the public.

Three former forces – Perth and Kinross Constabulary, Angus Constabulary and City of Dundee Police – ceased to exist with the amalgamation of Tayside Police in 1975, before it too became a thing of the past with the advent of Police Scotland.

Anyone who would like to organise a group visit between now and next April is asked to get in touch through the museum’s website or Facebook page.