Fight on to stop Coventry's historic police museum moving to Birmingham

West Midlands Police is planning to move all memorabilia to a new museum in Birmingham

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05:00, 16 AUG 2019
Updated14:53, 16 AUG 2019

They have begun a campaign to keep it in the city — Conservative councillors in Coventry Police Museum. (Image: Gary Ridley)

Opposition councillors are rallying to keep Coventry’s historic police museum in the city, amid a £1.2 million plan which would see it shut down.

The site, based at Little Parks Street police station, was founded in 1957 and contains memorabilia of some of Coventry’s more gruesome past – including the ‘death mask’ of the last woman to be hung in Coventry in 1849, Mary Ball.

It could shut under West Midlands Police plans to move exhibits to a new ‘central museum’ in Birmingham, but the city’s Conservative group believe Coventry’s history should remain in the city.

Group leader councillor Gary Ridley, who said the party is considering submitting a motion to full council, said: “We take the view that we should not see things transfer from Coventry to Birmingham.

How the new police museum could look — Graphics put together by museum consultants Campbell & Co on how the Birmingham museum could look. (Image: West Midlands Police)

“We do not support a greater Birmingham and I want to see a greater Coventry.

“That does not include transferring assets to our bigger brother down the M6.

“I also think it should be more accessible as police do an incredible job in extraordinarily difficult circumstances and this museum is something we should be showcasing.”

Police unveiled plans for a single force museum to be based at the Victorian Lock-Up in Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham earlier this year.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands police also explored moving the museum to an unused set of rooms at Coventry Council House, visiting the venue last year.

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A police spokesman said: “A team leading a project to turn the Victorian Lock-Up in Steelhouse Lane into a police museum have taken a huge leap forward with plans now drawn up to show how it will look.

“Development funding of £145,400 has been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help West Midlands Police progress their plans to apply for a full national lottery grant at a later date.

“If funds are awarded, the plan is for one central police museum to house police memorabilia currently held in sites across the force.”

They are bidding to keep it open — Coventry Conservatives at the police museum (Image: Gary Ridley)

Coventry is already losing police buildings in Canley, Foleshill and Willenhall as part of a force bid to save £5m a year, Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson announced last year.

Plans to close Coventry’s museum has further accelerated rumours Little Park Street station could be the fourth to close, although police say – whatever happens – they want a city centre site to remain.

A police spokesman added: “A review into where the Coventry central site will be, if changing from Little Park Street at all, is ongoing but it is unlikely any change will take place before the City of Culture in 2021.”