New Crime Museum Will Open To The Public

The New Scotland Yard Crime Museum – formerly, and famously, known as the “Black Museum”  – has previously only been open to police officers and selected guests.

But, from October this year, it’s fascinating, though chilling, collection of artefacts, paraphernalia and sundry other memorabilia connected to some of history’s most notorious crimes will go on public display at the Museum of London with a new exhibition entitled “The Crime Museum Uncovered.”

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CRIME RELATED EXHIBITS

For over 140 years the Metropolitan Police Crime Museum has been amassing thousands of items linked to crime and criminals.

Visitors have been able to view a selection of items that relate to crimes as diverse as those of Jack the Ripper, the Acid Bath murders, the Great Train Robbery and the Kray Twins.

NO PUBLIC ACCESS PREVIOUSLY

But, getting in to see the collection has always been difficult as admission has always been restricted to serving police officers and their guests, those who can demonstrate a very (I’m almost tempted to say a “bloody”) good reason for wanting to visit, aside from simple morbid curiosity.

OPENS IN OCTOBER

But, from 8th October 2015 to 10th April 2016, this legendary collection will come to the Museum of London and the general public will, for the first time in its history, be able  to study some of the thousands of pieces that make up one of the World’s greatest collection of crime-related items.

NOT GLAMOURISING CRIMINAL ACTS

The Museum has been determined to avoid the temptation – and the accusation – of glamorising the criminally inclined and of concentrating too much on the gruesome details of murders, so we are promised that the onus will be, very much, on the “human stories behind the actions.”

Curators are also very aware that there is no such thing as a victimless crime and have, therefore, taken the advice of the independent London Policing Ethics Panel to ensure that the interests of victims of crime have been taken into account during each stage of planning the exhibition.

CRIMES THAT CHANGED HISTORY

Obviously, it will be difficult to escape completely the aspect of morbid voyeurism that the new exhibition will, inevitably, give rise to. But, from an historical perspective, the exhibition promises to be truly gripping as many of the cases covered have played a major role in how the Metropolis is policed and how crimes are investigated and solved.

BOOKING YOUR TICKETS

“The Crime Museum Uncovered” promises to be a rare treat for all aficionados of true crime and will, no doubt, prove an irresistible draw to those of us who are fascinated by the way in which crimes have investigated and, in most cases, solved by the Metropolitan Police.

Tickets cost £12.50 online (£15.00 on the day) and can be booked here.

Why not make a day of it by visiting the exhibition and then booking tickets for our Jack the Ripper Guided Walking Tour in the evening to learn the full story of the one that got away?