Welcome to
The Friends of The Devon & Cornwall Constabulary Heritage & Learning Resource
Police Heritage and Museum Collection based in Devon
The Friends Group was recently formed in May of 2011 in order to support the fine collection from the former museum of the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, the current collections officer and volunteer staff.The Collection.
This Collection is considered one of the best collections of this type in the UK and is being lovingly catalogued and stored in proper conditions at Okehampton Police Station in Devon by a team of dedicated volunteers and friends under the guidance of the curator. This collection holds historical police artefacts that date back to the early 1800 and to date a total of 10,000 records consisting of artefacts, books, photographs, archives and records have been entered onto our data base. We receive many requests for historical researches and from the records catalogued the friends and volunteers successfully complete approximately 20 requests a month covering all aspects of the collection. This figure is constantly growing.
This Collection is considered one of the best collections of this type in the UK and is being lovingly catalogued and stored in proper conditions at Okehampton Police Station in Devon by a team of dedicated volunteers and friends under the guidance of the curator. This collection holds historical police artefacts that date back to the early 1800 and to date a total of 10,000 records consisting of artefacts, books, photographs, archives and records have been entered onto our data base. We receive many requests for historical researches and from the records catalogued the friends and volunteers successfully complete approximately 20 requests a month covering all aspects of the collection. This figure is constantly growing.
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Our Vision.
We are all in financial hard times but luckily our current Chief Constable and staff are willing to ensure this wonderful collection remains with us, together with the correct storage facilities to keep a collection of this size and age properly preserved at all times. The ultimate goal of such a collection would be to display to the public and have library facilities for research. However, at the present time the most important role of the collection and it's Friends and supporters is to continue cataloguing and developing as an on- line data base.
We are all in financial hard times but luckily our current Chief Constable and staff are willing to ensure this wonderful collection remains with us, together with the correct storage facilities to keep a collection of this size and age properly preserved at all times. The ultimate goal of such a collection would be to display to the public and have library facilities for research. However, at the present time the most important role of the collection and it's Friends and supporters is to continue cataloguing and developing as an on- line data base.
Tern TV are filming a series for BBC 2 called Britain at Risk which is investigating really positive stories around good work being done to save Britain's invaluable heritage. They were specifically interested in small enthusiastic and inspirational projects. As such they contacted Our curator Angela to suggest they did an episode around The Historic Collections. This would focus on all the hard work and dedication of the volunteers, friends group and the Driving Heritage Project. Angela has had a few meetings now with Tern TV who were bowled over by our work and the collection and filming was due to happen on Monday 29th September subject to approval by The Chief Officers Group. Sadly COG have made the decision that this should not go ahead. Obviously we are all very disappointed to lose another ideal opportunity to celebrate all the positive aspects of our work and the collection.
Following the turning down of the request by the Chief Officers Group from Tern TV to include the collection and story in a BBC2 series 'Britain at Risk', below is the reply received from Tanya Croft, Heads of Corporate Communications, Force HQ...
10th November 2011
" With regard to the decision made on 'Britain at Risk'; as with all forces across the country we get many requests from production companies who want to film different aspects of the constabulary's work. This means that we have a standard process for considering all applications which starts with the request being considered carefully by the press office and area of business before being submitted to the Chief Officer Group (COG) for a final decision.
Therefore, as with all other filming requests, the request from Tern TV was carefully considered by COG alongside others received that week. However as I am sure you will appreciate, it is simply not feasible for us to support all the requests we receive and therefore, on this occasion, COG felt unable to give its support to the request at this time. I understand that a 'no' from COG is always disappointing for the area of business that wishes to participate in filming, but every request is considered individually and unfortunately we do find that we have to refuse a number of approaches we receive.
Whilst I realise that the decision will be disappointing for the Friends Group, it should in no way be seen as a withdrawal of support for the Heritage & Learning Resource by the Force. It was simply not supported on this occasion."
Comment on our forum here or click letter above to see reply from the Chief Officers Group
Save our van!
The Driving Heritage van may become a victim of financial restraints. It was donated a few years ago by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This van is an invaluable resource used by volunteers and police officers to travel all over the force area to educate various groups and schools using portable units and items from our actual collection. This is a very popular facility and new volunteers have come forward to enable us to meet the increasing number of requests, but, we urgently need to secure the running costs in order to prevent us losing the van and keep it on the road. We really don't want to lose this tremendous facility, so if you can assist in any way with the running costs, the please get in touch with us.
The Driving Heritage van may become a victim of financial restraints. It was donated a few years ago by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This van is an invaluable resource used by volunteers and police officers to travel all over the force area to educate various groups and schools using portable units and items from our actual collection. This is a very popular facility and new volunteers have come forward to enable us to meet the increasing number of requests, but, we urgently need to secure the running costs in order to prevent us losing the van and keep it on the road. We really don't want to lose this tremendous facility, so if you can assist in any way with the running costs, the please get in touch with us.
- Items of interest for young and old.
- Children can try the stocks, helmets & wear handcuffs!
- Take fingerprints and make up identikits
- Test the full size replica of a Tardis.
- Priceless records, books and equipment to view