The museum offers visitors a rare look into police history through objects used in crimes, photographs and mock-ups. The exhibition gives visitors an idea of what the work of crime scene technicians and detectives is like. Also on display are a collection of objects related to crimes committed in the 50s ? everything from art theft to serial murders.
The museum?s collection includes a piece of the skull of Sándor Rózsa, the legendary thief, as well as a camera from the 1800s used to take mug shots.
?Included among our plans is an exhibition of the stories of the most startling crimes,? says Éva Rozsnyai, the museum?s director. She added that more than 50,000 books and documents in its collection are available to researchers.
The museum was established in 1908 with 124 objects collected by police officers, but it expanded to tens of thousands of objects later on. Most of the collection was lost in WWII. But in 1964, an attempt was made to get a permit to reopen the museum. Three years later, the permit was awarded; however, only ?professionals? and party leaders were allowed to visit. In 1999, the museum opened, to the general public, under the name Crime and Police History Museum.
The museum, located at Mosonyi utca 7, in Budapest?s District VIII, is open to all visitors free of charge. It attracts more than 10,000 visitors a year.
Source: Múlt-kor/MTI-Panoráma
