Giving the past a future: preserving the heritage of the UK's Criminal Justice System

In the past a huge quantity of material relating to the police and criminal justice system has been lost, either through neglect, lack of resources or ignorance of its value. Giving the Past a Future attempts to explain why criminal justice history needs to be preserved, and gives case studies of successful projects to preserve old police and prison documents and artefacts, as well as discussing the problems and pitfalls of conservation and preservation for the public. Experts in the field give guidance on records management and the impact of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Giving the Past a Future is a unique source of background information for researchers, record managers, archivists and curators, as well as historians and enthusiasts. Subjects include: • The Unique Policing History of Northern Ireland • The Metropolitan and City Police Orphanage •The Police Vehicle Enthusiasts’ Club • British Police Forces’ Archiving Policy in 2003 • The Battle to Preserve Britain’s Fire History • Issues Facing Police and Crime Museums • Museum Status, Storage Demands and ‘Hearts and Minds’ • Galleries of Justice, Nottingham • Essex Police Museum • Ripon Museum Trust • The Role of the Museum, Library and Archive Council •The Effect of the Freedom of Information Act on Records and Archives Management • Police Force Records Management Policie