Old helmets, Glasgow Police Museum

Image: © Ian Dodds Taken: 28 Mar 2023

How tactics change. These days, unless on serious detective duties, the police like to be as visible as possible. Back in 1912, however, even the lowliest constable was expected to go about his night-time duties lurking in the shadows wearing the bottom helmet, in order to apprehend the criminals before they had time to scarper. The museum is free, quirky and interesting, with better than usual text-boards - although these didn't make it clear why the earliest Glasgow police force lugged about the big wooden clappers and rattles displayed, instead of those whistles that famously could he heard a mile away. And if police uniforms are your thing, you're in for a treat. There are several dressed-up mannequins (one of which is reflected in the glass of the photographed display) throughout the medium-sized room which essentially makes up the museum along with an annex, which has lots more mannequins exhibiting various uniforms from around the world. The quirkiest thing of all is that to gain access to the museum an entry-system button must be pressed in order to get buzzed up to the first floor.

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