MPS historical collection

ps/15/06
16 March 2006
MPA briefing paper

Author: Andrew Bundle, Head of Business Support, Logistical Services MPS

This briefing paper has been prepared to inform members and staff. It is not a committee report and no decisions are required.

Summary

This briefing provides an update on the rationalisation of the MPS Historical Collection at Charlton and development of a proposal to secure its future.

Progress to rationalise the collection

Following the publication of the MPA Audit report in November 2004, a small team was formed to undertake the rationalisation of the MPS Historical Collection stored at Charlton.

Priority was given to addressing Health & Safety concerns. This first entailed the removal and emptying of 158 boxes of books, pamphlets, and annual reports from Police Services around the world. These were originally held by the Commissioner’s Library at New Scotland Yard and had been identified by disposal by the Librarian. The majority of the contents of the boxes were shredded as they were of no use or relevance to the Collection.

Over time, the Collection had amassed a significant amount of redundant equipment such as old casings for CCTV cameras, rusted CAD/Information Room desks, boxes of redundant radio equipment. Most of this was in a very poor state and as a consequence, were disposed of by way of the Prisoner Property Voucher (this entails 2 signatures, one at senior level to authorise disposal of any item).

Glass fronted display cases which had been used for the 150th Anniversary of the Metropolitan Police in 1979, were disposed of as they were in a dangerous condition particularly as the glass was not safety glass.

These activities freed up space to allow for the inspection, assessment and cataloguing of the remaining items to ensure those retained are of relevance and significance to the history of the Metropolitan Police.

To date, over 10,000 items have been catalogued onto a computer database. This includes:

• Uniforms audited and redundant items returned to Uniform Services for disposal.
• Auditing of Medals held.
• All Traffic related items transferred to the custody of the Metropolitan Police Vintage Vehicle Fleet at Hampton Garage.
• The Firearms held within the collection deactivated and held securely.
• Framed photographs, cleaned and placed in more suitable storage.
• Occurrence, Charge and Persons At Station books placed in more suitable storage.
• The Central Records of Service integrated.
• The Women Police records rationalised.
• The biographical and crime books catalogued. These will be placed on the ALICE system in the Commissioner’s Library for cross-referencing.
• Busts of Sir Robert Peel and Sir Richard Mayne identified in a packing case. The bust of Sir Robert, on its plinth, is now placed in the entrance to the Collection.
• Creation of one complete set of Police Orders from September 1857.
• Creation of a computerised correspondence system.

Enquiries

The backlog of enquiries is being substantially reduced. From November 2004 to date, a conservative estimate is that 1,000 items of correspondence have been completed. The “Loans” books and forms have been audited to trace items; there are only a few loans that remain outstanding. On average, some 20 calls are received daily and over 50 letters and e-mails are received each week. Work is in hand to clear the backlog by the end of March 2006.

To facilitate the rationalisation of the Collection, access to the premises by members of the public has been restricted. The Friends of the Metropolitan Police Historical Collection have had limited involvement in helping with rationalising the records and books and their help is greatly appreciated.

Head of historical collection

In September 2005, an individual was appointed to this newly created post; she has experience of handling archives and has an extensive knowledge of police history and the influential police historical community. Her membership of the Crime and Punishment Collections Network has already proved useful and the Collection has re-commenced limited access visits to staff as a pre-cursor to more proactive work.

The future

Whilst considerable progress has been made with the Historical Collection over the past year, work continues to refine the conservation methods such as using calico covers for the uniforms and conservation boxes with acid-free paper for all artefacts to enhance the storage environment. Work will shortly commence to explore the digitisation of the photographs held in the collection using an established commercial photographic library for which the MPS would receive royalties.

However, there is much more that can be achieved to realise the full potential the heritage of the MPS offers. A specific area of concern is accommodation as the current facilities at Charlton are not conducive to allow for broad public access and the lease on the premises has already been extended. Accepting that the prospect of exclusive use of an existing site within the estate is unrealistic, it may be feasible sometime in the future to use part of an existing building that would otherwise be redundant. Should a suitable venue be identified, establishing a Resource Centre (with controlled access for school parties and other bone fide groups) might pave the way to attract forms of grant funding associated with education.

There remains immense interest in police history, not only from former police officers but also the wider public stimulated by television dramas depicting policing in the past. Work has already commenced with the MPS Events and Income Development Unit, to explore possible marketing opportunities in collaboration with other collections within the MPS - using a relevant “brand image” to exploit the full potential interest there is in London policing. In addition, the explosion in interest in genealogy, fuelled in part by the Internet, places a strain on existing resources. There is currently a proposal to create an Internet website with paid membership (similar to “Friends Reunited” which allows only limited access before a subscription becomes payable).

The way forward

A way to harness these proposals would be to work in collaboration with the other Collections and Museums within the MPS as informal liaison already exists. The unique attraction of the Crime Museum would foster considerable public interest (and thereby sponsorship), which combined with the attraction of the Mounted Branch and Thames Museums, and the Historic Vehicle Collection provides the foundation for a structured approach to commercial and grant funding. By adopting a co-ordinated approach, yet allowing the Collections to retain their individual identities, the MPS can target sponsors and grant making bodies to the maximum extent.

The first step in the process would be the development of a detailed business plan, which would be submitted, to the MPS Investment Board for endorsement before any financial commitments are made. This would seek to regularise the position surrounding ownership of all artefacts and the creation of a steering group (at Management Board level) to oversee progress. Members will be kept fully informed of progress of this proposal.

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