Vintage police equipment on display

history and cultures#topic

Scotland Yard's vintage uniforms, equipment and maps are being exhibited by the Met Collection.

Around 15,000 pieces dating back to 1829 will be rotated by the new heritage centre, in west London.

The exhibition was unveiled by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, and the first displays feature a celebration of the 90th anniversary of female police officers in London and World War Two policing.

The heritage centre is the latest in a long effort to create a permanent exhibition of police and emergency service artefacts in London, with Lord Mayor Boris Johnson commenting that he wanted to introduce a "blue light museum".

He said this type of exhibition could soon become one of the capital's best-known attractions and could generate a large amount of money.

Following the exhibition opening, there has been calls to make New Scotland Yard's private museum open to the public. The "Black Museum" houses grisly items from some of the force's most gruesome cases, including serial killer Dennis Nilsen's stove which was used to boil flesh.

Curator Maggie Bird said: "It's a small space but we believe we are making the best use of it."

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