Police veteran bids for police museum

A police veteran is campaigning with the force to celebrate the history of Staffordshire.

Former police constable, Alan Mansell, who started with Staffordshire Police over half a decade ago, was invited to the force’s HQ in Stafford to share historical pictures, artefacts and stories from his policing career through the 60s and 80s. 

Chief Constable Chris Noble and fellow officers from the roads policing unit (RPU) met with Alan, some 38 years after he retired as a traffic cop following a serious motorcycle collision whilst on duty.

Alan, who committed 26-years of his life to the communities of Staffordshire, is campaigning for the force to introduce a museum – dedicated to celebrating the history of the force and the heritage of local communities.

The below pictures, which are dated between 1958 and 1984, are among the many artefacts which Alan and fellow serving officer, PC David Stubbs, hope to be displayed for Staffordshire communities to visit in a future museum.

(Left: A Velocette LE police motorcycle, taken at Longton Police Station in 1967. Right: Alan Mansell (stood on the left))

Back in 1958, Alan joined what was then known as The City of Stoke-on-Trent Police as a cadet, enjoying various stints in Longton, Fenton, Hanley and Burslem.

Two-years-later, Alan joined the force as the eighth police constable, where he saw the amalgamation of Stoke and south Staffordshire in 1968 – forming what is now known as Staffordshire Police.

During the amalgamation he was assigned to the control room, due to his extensive knowledge of the local community and his face-to-face connections with so many members of the public.

He was then posted on the northern traffic unit between 1968 and 1971 and continued as a traffic officer until 1983.

Sadly, Alan was then involved in a motorcycle accident whilst on duty and despite attempts to fight back to fitness, he was retired from the force in December 1984.

Now, he lives with his wife in Weston Coyney and is campaigning alongside PC Stubbs to celebrate the county’s policing heritage.

PC Stubbs said: “The aim of the History and Museum group is to collate and document physical objects, photographs, documents and stories from within our communities.

“At the very least, we intend to display these relics across various locations within Staffordshire – but our ultimate ambition is to have our own dedicated museum to celebrate our history both as a force and a collective community.

“I was put in contact with Alan through social media and I was truly fascinated by what he had to say, so much that I invited him down to HQ to meet our Chief and some of the follow traffic officers.

“I really want to thank him for his time, not only yesterday but for his incredible 26-years of service to Staffordshire.”

On his visit, CC Noble presented Alan with a pair of Staffordshire Police Federation crystal whisky tumblers, in recognition of his contribution to policing and the public.