Police HQ (aka Police Depot)
Floriana
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Nothing draws Maltese crowds like the promise of unlimited freebies or wobbly mannequin heads.
Reconstructed crime scenes or tableaux of Malta's most notorious murders with their grim implements of doom (a knife! a bomb! an obsolete washing machine!) as well as photos of the crime scenes themselves.
You might protest that the mannequins used are clearly not believable, but that's missing the point. Like fake waves on a man-made beach, the conceit is part of the fun. Besides, the fact that they're mannequins actually makes them that much spookier, like an enormous menacing Ken. How much spookier would Ken be if he was spookily opening the door with a knife spookily concealed in the other hand whilst spookily eyeing Barbie who is in her bath washing her royal bakelite behind? Spooky, huh?
Ex-Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg
(also into unlimited freebies and wobbly mannequin heads)
There's also a section with old police memorabilia - including a 19th century bicycle with those 'honky honk' horns (I was stupid enough to honk it in the presence of about 10 police officers who reminded me, in no uncertain terms, that the displays are not for touching and the horns are not for honking) and a fantastic sign that says 'Disperse - We are going to throw tear gas!'.
Anyways the bit with the scary dolls is the bit you really want to see...
Malta's most interesting and entertaining museum (by far). Congrats to the coppers who work on the displays during their time off. Time well spent fellas - here's hoping none of you ever get mistresses or girlfriends...
LINKS:
Malta 2008 - "Crime Museum - Police HQ"
Times of Malta - "Police open museum to show crime does not pay"
