We delved into the treasure trove of artefacts at the Thames Valley Police Museum.

The museum, housed in the 18th century ‘White House’ at Sulhamstead Police Training College, opened in 1987.

It contains over 160 years of history from Thames Valley Police and the five police forces that merged to form it: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxford City, Oxfordshire and Reading Borough.

From Victorian serial killers to technological innovations, there are plenty of original items, uniforms and medals for visitors to peruse, mostly donated by retired officers.

“That’s how he grew up. And since then, it’s grown even more,” said Ken Wells, retired coppersmith and museum volunteer.

Ken started out in the Metropolitan Police before transferring to Berkshire Constabulary as it was then known.

Speaking about the range of exhibits on display, he said: “The most interesting thing we have in the museum, without a doubt, which made world news, is the Great Train Robbery (of 1963).”

This section boasts the original image of Ronnie Biggs, who masterminded and carried out the infamous heist, plus the original Monopoly board that his criminal gang played while in hiding.

But also impressive are the innovations in communications, forensics and transportation on display.

“I suppose the biggest advance is in communications,” Ken continued.

“When I joined as a beat officer, the only protection I had was a whistle and a cane. Now we have radios.”

Speaking of the first radios in use, he added: “One of them you received and the other you spoke.”

“It was a great advance, but unfortunately the area it covered would only be about five miles, which was quite restrictive,” he said as he stood next to an original communications desk used to send and communicate with officers in the Thames Valley.

Another fascinating development depicted is the investigation of the crime scene – an area close to Ken, who has spent most of his career as a forensic expert collecting evidence from crime scenes.

Before fingerprinting, the evidence had to be photographed using specialized cameras, he explained.

But once DNA fingerprinting entered policing in the mid-1980s, pioneered by British geneticist Alec Jeffreys, it simplified the process by allowing fingerprints to be lifted from crime scenes.

Watch Ken’s full demonstration in the video below – with the same kit he used as a serving officer.

After decades on the force, Ken now finds himself the custodian of exhibits depicting crimes he helped investigate.

“You remember some of the things,” he said. One case Ken worked on was the 1987 Hungerford Tragedy.

“I actually attended the scene that started in Savernake Forest,” Ken continued.

“I then went to Swindon Hospital where two of the deceased had been taken.

“The next day I was involved in the scenes and a lot of the vehicles they were involved in came here in heavy support and I did forensics on that.

“As it subsided, I was detained for a further five weeks to collect all the forensic evidence we obtained from the scenes.”

Currently, the museum is only open on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

Entry is free and no reservation is required.

Museum guests are encouraged to bring their smartphone and headphones for the full interactive experience.

Private tours are also available on request for a suggested donation of £3.

Contact [email protected] to make a private booking.

Talks and tours are also given by volunteers, many retired local police officers like Ken.

Visit to book a talk with a Thames Valley Museum volunteer.