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LETTER: Chief executive explains why ‘very popular’ museum forced to close
The station now sits empty and its future unknown
Sadly, we have had to close the very popular Museum of Armed Policing at Chatteris. There are a number of reasons.
We have spent a lot of money improving and maintaining the station over the past 9 years.
We approached the Police and Crime Commissioner about purchasing the station and consulted with our neighbours, Chatteris Town Council and Fenland Council (all who have been amazingly supportive) about extending and improving the station further.
The Museum of Armed Policing was housed in the former police station at Chatteris
Our plans included a bigger, better museum and reintroducing a 1 to 2 days per week police enquiries office (at no cost apart from staffing to Cambs Police).
The only caveat we put on all of this was for the radio mast to be removed as it’s a complete eyesore and was in a poor state of repair. Indeed in 2022 there was an electrical strike which hit the mast and caused us over £3500 of damage.
The mast requires extensive work to this day.
This was refused by Cambs Police who insisted the mast was needed for the Fenland Safety Partnership.
So, we had to make a very sad and difficult decision to relocate and close the museum that has attracted visitors from all over the UK and beyond.
Armed police museum at Chatteris – once visited by Princess Anne – shuts up shop
Indeed, in late 2019 HRH The Princess Royal visited us. We duly gave notice and have since moved to another location still in Chatteris. Cambridgeshire Police estate office and the PCC obviously never recognised the positive aspects of the museum and our offer to re-open the station to benefit the local community.
The station now sits empty and its future unknown. There are extensive repairs to be carried out on the radio mast in due course.
Mark Williams
Chief Executive
Police Firearms Officers Association
Registered Charity 1139247
PFOA 24/7 Support 0800 206 1752
