About us 

About the Museum

Thames Valley Police has a small museum at the White House, Sulhamstead (near Reading, Berks), formerly headquarters of the Berkshire Constabulary and now Thames Valley Police's training centre.

The museum includes displays on the history of Thames Valley Police and the five police forces that merged to form it: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxford City, Oxfordshire and Reading Borough.

The museum's collections include items from the Great Train Robbery of 1963, uniforms, equipment, medals, photographs, scenes of crime evidence, and occurrence and charge books.

A booklet on the history of Thames Valley Police and its predecessor forces is now available. It contains information and photographs taken from the archives of the Force Museum at Sulhamstead.

The booklet costs £1.50. For more information please email the Museum curator or call 0118 932 5748.

Force Open Day 2010

Thames Valley Police is opening its doors to the public this year for the fifth year running.

An open day is being held on Saturday 4 September 2010 between 10.00am and 4.00pm, at Thames Valley Police Training Centre in Sulhamstead near Reading.

The open day aims to help promote greater understanding of the work of the various departments and specialist roles within the Force.

The public will have the opportunity to look around the Force Museum, which is packed with the history of Thames Valley Police, and get the chance to meet some of the officers from the Force’s specialist departments.

Admission is £2.50 per adult and under 16s go free. No dogs, except guide dogs, are allowed on site. Parking at the site is limited and will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Disabled access is available.

• View Open Day poster (PDF 372 Kb - opens new window).
• View Open Day flyer with map (PDF 397 Kb - opens new window).

Officers will be on hand to give a personal insight into their role and work; the majority of which the public might not be aware of because it goes on behind-the-scenes.

One of the main attractions of the day is the police helicopter which will be manned by the Chiltern Air Support Unit. The Roads Policing department will also be present with various vehicles. Also in attendance will be the mounted and dog sections. Displays will also be taking place throughout the day.

Crime reduction literature will be available, as well as information about joining Thames Valley Police either as a police officer, police community support officer (PCSO), special constable or volunteer.

If you have any further enquiries about the day, please email the Thames Valley Police Press Office.