The Police Museum in Stockholm - about the police and society

The Police Museum in Stockholm tells us about the work of the police, but also about the victims of crime and how ordinary people view the police. The exhibition 'The Trigger' is also currently on display, which uses photographs to tell the story of both perpetrators and police work throughout history.

Police Museum in Stockholm

The Police Museum is located in Museiparken on Gärdet in Stockholm, right next to a number of other museums. We visited the museum last spring, just before they closed down due to COVID-19. Now that they've reopened, it feels a little more fun to tell you about our visit.

We hadn't done our homework and were perhaps expecting a collection of 'historic police artefacts', such as cars and uniforms. This was not at all what we found. At first we were perhaps a little disappointed, but we soon realised that the museum had a lot of interesting stories to tell.

Exhibitions at the Police Museum

The Police Museum in Stockholm has several different exhibitions, both permanent and temporary. We visited the 'Trigger' exhibition, which opened in February 2020 and runs until December 2021.

The trigger - 150 years of police photography

The temporary exhibition 'The Trigger' is about the people in front of and behind the police camera. It allows you to reflect on how the camera has been used in police work, and at the same time gives you an insight into a variety of crimes and human destinies.

On weekends there are guided tours of the exhibition. We looked around on our own, but even that was interesting. For example, we learnt a bit more about the "Russian League" from the 1910s, the "Salaligan" from the 1930s and the Norrmalmstorg drama in 1973.

Vagrants could be sent to a forced labour centre under the 'Vagrancy Act' and prostitutes were registered and given special rules to follow, such as not being allowed to appear in open windows or imitate the dress of middle-class women.

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At the mirrored chair, the suspect was placed for photography. I tried it on Peter, it worked pretty well, didn't it?

We & them - an exhibition on hate crime

The exhibition 'We & They' deals with crimes committed because of the victim's sexual orientation, religion or ethnic background. This is an exhibition that touches people and feels important.

Traces of crime

The exhibition 'Crime Tracks' focuses on the crime scene itself. Here you can put yourself in the shoes of the forensic scientist and think about what might have happened.

The police in your eyes

The exhibition that we probably spent the shortest time on was "The Police in Your Eyes". It is about how the image of the police is affected by news, films and social media, and how, for example, riots can flare up after a conflict on Instagram. Maybe we were a bit tired when we got here?

The children's exhibition Police, Police ...

There is a children's exhibition with police toys, puzzles and films. The museum was almost completely empty when we were there just before it closed in the spring, so we got to "play" in peace with the police car and the police motorbike.

Police vehicle collection

So, where are all the old police vehicles? We simply thought that they have not been saved, but then I read on the museum's website that there is a collection of historic police vehicles in Tullinge, south of Stockholm. These are apparently displayed annually at an open house and for pre-booked groups. You can see 50 different police vehicles from 1918 onwards.

See more museums nearby the Police Museum

If you have the energy for more museums, there are several interesting and enjoyable places nearby to choose from. The following museums are right next door. You can also do as we did and pop into the Ethnographic Museum for lunch!

Have you been to the Police Museum in Stockholm? How was your experience?

Facts about the Police Museum in Stockholm

• Address: Museivägen 7, Stockholm
• Location: Located at Museiparken on Gärdet, not far from the Kaknästornet tower.
• More info: You can find more information at the museum's website.

Opening hours

• Regular opening hours: Tuesday - Friday 12:00-17:00 and Saturday and Sunday 11:00-17:00 (2020).
• Different opening hours: A few days a year the Police Museum is closed or open on Mondays. See the museum's website for current times.

Prices

All prices below are for 2020, please check the Police Museum website for any changes. Please note that school and leisure groups must pre-register for visits.

• Children and young people up to 19 years old: Free admission
• Students: 40 kr
• Pensioners: 40 kr
• Adults: 60 kr
• Annual pass for adults: 200 kr

Services and practical information

• For families with children: Changing rooms are located by the toilets at the entrance. Stroller space is available. It is not possible to bring a pram into the children's exhibition.
• Storage: Free lockers are available at the entrance.
• Food service: There is a coffee and sweets machine and a microwave. Packed lunches are allowed, but space is limited. It is not allowed to organise parties. Restaurants can be found at the museums nearby.
• Shop: There is a museum shop with books, children's books, toys and more.

Tours and activities

• Views: Tours that do not need to be booked in advance are given according to the calendar on the museum's website. In addition, tours can be booked for groups.
• Activities for children: Children's exhibition and, at weekends, the children's exhibition.
• School programmes: Educational programmes and materials are available for schools.

Accessibility

• Availability of premises: The entire museum is accessible by wheelchair or walker.
• Exhibitions: The exhibitions use easy-to-read texts and pictograms. There are also several audio illustrations.
• Toilets: There is an accessible toilet in the entrance.

Getting to the Police Museum

• Bus: Take bus 69 from Centralen towards Blockhusudden/Kaknästornet. Get off at Museiparken.
• Car: There are some paid car parks at the museum. Please note that it can be difficult to find parking during school holidays and weekends, for example. There are also car parks at the Ethnographic Museum, Källhagen Inn and the Kaknästornet tower.