Following the success of last year’s programme, the Guildhall Heritage Centre is once again hosting Crime & Punishment Month this March. The series of free Friday evening talks explores the history of crime, policing, and justice through engaging presentations by expert speakers.

 

The programme brings together topics including forensic science, historic criminal cases, prison history, and the development of women in policing, making it an ideal event for anyone interested in true crime, social history, and policing heritage.

 

These engaging talks are ideal for anyone interested in true crime history, forensic investigation, and policing heritage in the UK.

 

 

Forensic specialists Amy and Clare present CSI and Beyond, an insightful talk examining how real-life forensic investigations work and how they compare to crime scene investigation on television. Visitors will gain an understanding of the science used to solve crimes.

 

Andrea Tester from the Museum of Policing in Devon & Cornwall explores historic criminal cases involving arsenic poisoning and reveals how this deadly substance was used in some of the most chilling crimes of the past.

 

Friday 20th March – Dartmoor Prison History Talk

Paul Finegan, Curator at the Dartmoor Prison Museum, will guide audiences through over 200 years of history at one of Britain’s most notorious prisons. The talk examines the many roles of Dartmoor Prison and challenges some of the myths surrounding it.

 

Simon Dell, former police officer and police historian, presents a talk on the founding of the Policewomen’s Department in 1915. Discover how the Suffragette movement, the First World War, and wider social change helped shape early women’s policing, and learn about the pioneering women who influenced policing in the West Country.

 

Visitors attending Crime & Punishment Month can arrive early to explore more history. The Museum of Policing in Devon and Cornwall at Court Gate and the Keeping the King’s Peace exhibition in the Robing Room will be open from 6pm on each talk evening.

 

 

Crime & Punishment Month offers a fascinating opportunity to explore the stories behind crime, justice, and law enforcement through expert talks and exhibitions.