South Wales Police Heritage Centre
1. Contact us
South Wales Police Heritage Centre
South Wales Police Headquarters
Cowbridge Road
Cowbridge Road
Bridgend
CF31 3SU
Please do not report crime on this number - please call 101 to report a non-emergency crime or 999 in an emergency.
If you wish to enquire about visiting the South Wales Police Heritage Centre, please see our Visit Us page.
Social Media
The South Wales Police Heritage Centre regularly posts content onto the South Wales Police corporate social media sites. You can follow South Wales Police on:
Twitter @swpolice
Instagram @swpolice
Please do not report crime via social media - please call 101 to report a non-emergency crime or 999 in an emergency.
A Swansea Borough Police officer answering one of the first '999' calls in south Wales, 1947.
Contact us to enquire about donating an object into our collection!
Thinking of donating an item into our collection? Please read the following for advice on what to do.
What do we collect?
The Heritage Centre collects material with a link to history of the South Wales Police and its predecessor forces in Glamorgan, Cardiff, Merthyr, Neath and Swansea. We like to collect objects that have interesting histories, personal stories and memories associated with them.
About your donation
When you contact us it would be helpful if you could provide us with as much information about your object as possible - i.e. its history and any other memories or stories associated with it. We would be grateful if you could provide the following:
- Background information – brief summary including any personal stories and how the object relates to the history of South Wales Police and its predecessor forces
- How you acquired the object
- Dates and/or events and incidents associated with the object
- A photograph of the object
- Please tell us if you have any photographs of the object in operation/use
- The condition of the object
How to get in touch
Email: [email protected] with ‘object donation’ in the subject line.
What happens next?
Once you have contacted us, a member of the team will get in touch and we may ask for more information.
Once a decision is reached we will contact you to either accept or decline your offer. If your donation is suitable for our collection we will arrange to meet with you to collect the object and we will ask you to sign a transfer of title form, which legally transfers the object into our care.
Please note: Whilst the Heritage Centre greatly appreciates offers of donation, it is not always possible for us to accept everything offered.
Every item is considered carefully in relation to our existing collections.
This helmet was worn by a police Inspector in south Wales during the Second World War.
Find it on display in the Heritage Centre.
Oral history donations: help us tell the story of the South Wales Police and its predecessor forces!
Are you a former officer or police staff member? If so – we would love to hear from you. Email: [email protected] with ‘story donation’ in the subject line.
Research Enquiries
Glamorgan Archives in Cardiff holds the records of the South Wales Police and its predecessor forces in Glamorgan, Cardiff and Merthyr. The Archives also holds the force’s photographic collection and historical quarter sessions records. If you wish to enquire about our police records please contact Glamorgan Archives via:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 029 2087 2200
Glamorgan Archives has produced a selection of research guides on popular subjects and series of records to help you get started in your research. Their guide to police records is available to download here:
The West Glamorgan Archive Service in Swansea holds the records of both the Neath and Swansea Borough Police forces. The Archive Service also holds quarter session records. You can contact West Glamorgan Archive Service via:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01792 636589
