“Hidden gem” the Museum of Policing in Devon & Cornwall has premiered its new short film at a special screening in Tavistock.
The film’s debut was celebrated at a special premiere attended by Museum members, business sponsors, local councillors, volunteers, and representatives from Devon & Cornwall Police, including Deputy Chief Constable Jim Colwell (far right, with staff, trustees and friends).
To view the film, please visit The Story of the Museum of Policing in Devon & Cornwall
The Museum of Policing in Devon and Cornwall – a registered charity – has amassed a collection of thousands of artefacts, documents and photographs charting local policing history and heritage, dating back as far as 1790.
This fascinating cross-section of social and policing history – believed to be amongst the largest collections in the UK – is painstakingly preserved, catalogued and digitised for generations to come by a small team of dedicated trustees, staff and volunteers based in Okehampton, Tavistock and Exeter.
The Museum collection was originally housed at Middlemoor Police Headquarters and was then moved to Okehampton Police Station in 2004.
From January 2026 an appointments system goes live to enable the public to visit Okehampton, complementing the mini-museum established in Tavistock’s Court Gate, which is open on selected days from Easter to the end of September. During the winter months viewing here is by prior appointment or for special events in the town, such as Dickensian Evening on 5th December.
In parallel, archive materials – thousands of photographs, documents, charts, maps and registers – is held at the Devon Heritage Centre in Exeter and has helped many families find out fascinating information about their ancestors.
Thanks to recent grants from the OPCC and Devon & Cornwall Police among others, the Museum is now in a strong position. Chair of Museum trustees, Bill Skelly QPM, says:
“Within the past 10 years the Museum has gone from strength to strength but without the help of the Commissioner’s Office we would not have been able to take the big leaps we have. ‘Behind every artifact lies a fascinating story – sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking. We are working hard to bring those stories to life and give people access to them for generations to come.’
“The police are present to protect and serve the public at pretty much every major event and moment of public life. Our film distils the importance of curating police history because their heritage is our own social history too. We think the film will help people to engage with what we do, why we do it, why it is so important, and how they can get involved too, for example through membership, or volunteering.”
DCC Colwell, attending the film premiere, added: “I would like to thank the Museum for telling our story – and the way you are telling it in such a passionate and committed way.” Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez concluded: “Devon and Cornwall are privileged to have such a fascinating collection of policing memorabilia which tells a remarkable story of how policing has evolved over many decades. It is important that it remains accessible to all, and I am grateful to everyone who is making that possible.”
For more information about using the Devon and Cornwall Police Archive, please click here.
