VISITORS from across Essex flocked to the Essex Police Museum during the school half-term holidays making it one of the highest attended ever. An impressive 249 visitors came through the museum doors on Wednesday February 17 to decorate plastic truncheon

VISITORS from across Essex flocked to the Essex Police Museum during the school half-term holidays making it one of the highest attended ever.

An impressive 249 visitors came through the museum doors on Wednesday February 17 to decorate plastic truncheons with glitter, stickers and sequins whilst learning about the iconic piece of police equipment.

Essex police museum curator, Becky Wash, said: "Police truncheons are an important piece of police equipment used since the 1800s right up until the 1990s.

She added: "During Victorian times an officer would have carried a truncheon as a badge of office, like a uniformed officer would wear a warrant card today. Police officers would often have their truncheon elaborately decorated, as it was not only a form of defence, but used to display their importance."

At the event children had the chance to hold a genuine King William IV truncheon dating from the early 1800s whilst they decorated their own and learnt the historical importance behind them. They also had the opportunity to view the oldest object in the museum, a King George III truncheon dating back to 1760.

Chelmsford resident Katherine, who took her two sons, aged 11 and three, said: "My sons thoroughly enjoyed the event and are already looking forward to the next one.

"I brought them along to this event as something to do during half-term, but it has also been a great way to introduce policing to them in a fun and positive way."

The Essex Police Museum holds a variety of free events for children throughout the year. For more information, visit the museum website at www.essex.police.uk/museum or call the museum curator on 01245 457150.