That is indeed the situation.
The CoLP, as with every force and Governmental department in the country, are going through a spending review. And the Museum, as with all sub departments within the force, are having to put a Business case forward.
In short they are fighting for their exsistance and the jewel in their business case proposition was the wall writing. As with these type of spending reviews, it takes time to be considered and, when compared with other more important departments such as Horse patrol, CID and Special Branch for instance, it is low on the list to be looked at.
Yes, its as mundane as that.
Monty

Hello Neil,
Please excuse my previously cynical view re a re-launch of a Police Museum, and the machìnations around using a star item to help the cause. My guess was simply stating something that had happened before in 1987 and the 'find' that time was the marginalia. That was splashed across the newspapers too to help re-launch the museum. I honestly didnt think that the same trick would be used twice.
No wonder you gents have to research it thoroughly. Nobody wants a repeat of 1987 and all that.
Because in 2012 every T needs crossing and every I needs dotting to avoid Lord knows what.
I am really pleased that you have stressed complete openess about this right from the off. The slightest hint of secrecy will lead us all down roads with questions nobody wants to rake over.
I welcome all genuine material with the same enthusiasm as the next person, but sadly, as each 'new' find pops up, I become more and more cynical. Nothìng at all personal, please. Perhaps I just want to see something that cannot be questioned on any front, as I'm tired of continual re-runs of worn out problems connected to validity, originality or provenance- as most are I should thìnk.
This subject doesnt need more problems and controversy. The mention of the very thing I wrote about- a use of this to help re-launch a museum leaves me with a bad taste and deja vu.
And what happens if the museum idea falls through? Will the City Police STILL refuse to share evidence pertaining to the WM? Because the bitter irony is that because they OWN the material- they can refuse "in perpetuity" if they wanted to.
And THAT tells me more than I'd like to know. Have the police in general any interest in actually revealing what they actually have without a self serving proviso each time?
Again. Please excuse the cynicism. Motive for REAL advance of knowledge doesnt seem to eminate from the varying police forces, if there isnt a reason other than truth and history to do it it seems?
I really hope this is the squeaky clean real McCoy. For us all, for history and for the sake of those caught up in this 124 years ago. And I hope that whatever happens, ALL genuine material gets released to the people that have a right to see it. The general public. With or without a museum ready for another re-launch etc etc.
Best wishes
Phil
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