A CITY museum preserving the history of crime and policing in Bradford is holding an open day to recruit new volunteers.

Bradford Police Museum, housed in the Victorian police station and cells in City Hall, needs people for a range of roles, including helping to look after its fleet of vintage police vehicles.

An open day today is being held tomorrow (Friday September 3) from 10am to 12noon for anyone interested in getting involved. Visitors will be given a free tour of the collection, the city's original cells, where Peaky Blinders scenes were filmed, and the preserved 1853 courtroom, used for TV dramas including Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Also filmed in the museum was TV drama The ABC Murders and Keira Knightley film Official Secrets.

Volunteer roles include being a tour guide, working front of house, helping to look after historic artefacts and maintaining the collection of historic police vehicles. There are also opportunities to join the curatorial team and work with items not currently on public display, as well as planning future exhibitions and events.

The museum re-opened earlier this year, after being closed due to the pandemic. New attractions planned include holograms of people such as Harry Houdini, who once escaped from a locked cell at the site, and 'Chains Charlie', a burglar said to haunt the museum. Also planned are re-enactments of real murder cases in the Victorian courtroom, with members of the public invited to be on the 'jury'.

Visitors will also have chance to step into the shoes of real-life characters from the past - including some of the city’s most notorious criminals - in new guided tours. Guides in police uniforms from Victorian times to the late 20th century, will lead the tours and visitor will each have a card bearing a name of someone from the past, including prisoners, police officers and a hangman. As the tour continues they learn about their fate.

The Police Museum was set up in 2014 by Martin Baines and his daughter, a historian. Run by a charitable trust and a team of volunteers who include retired police officers, it’s a fascinating journey through Bradford’s history of policing, crime and punishment.

Museum director Martin Baines said: “Since re-opening after lockdown the museum has been extremely busy and we are now looking to expand our volunteer team. As we're an independent museum staffed purely by volunteers, we really do rely on people who are passionate about preserving Bradford’s heritage to help us run the place.

"Volunteering at the museum is incredibly rewarding, and people tend to learn something new and fascinating every time they come here. It’s such a unique space to work in, truly one of Bradford’s hidden gems. I would like to welcome anyone who’s interested in joining us to come along to our open morning and find out a bit more for themselves. There’s no obligation to volunteer, and we promise not to lock you in the cells!”

The museum is also keen to hear from educational establishments or community groups looking for opportunities to collaborate on learning or voluntary projects.

* Visit bradfordpolicemuseum.com or call 07798 518035.