Border Force National Museum facts for kids
The entrance to Seized! The Border and Customs Uncovered
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| Established | 1994 |
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| Location | Liverpool, England |
| Type | Smuggling and law enforcement museum |
The Border Force National Museum is located in Liverpool, England. It holds a special collection about how borders are protected. This collection belongs to HM Revenue and Customs, which is a government department. It is one of the most important collections of its kind in the world.
This museum used to be called the HM Customs & Excise National Museum. Now, its collection is a gallery. You can find it on the basement floor of the Merseyside Maritime Museum. This museum is located at the Albert Dock.
The museum's exhibits tell the story of smuggling and illegal goods. This story goes from the 1700s to today. You can see tools used by border officers. There are also old pictures, paintings, and photos. These show the work of the UK Border Agency and HM Revenue and Customs. Other displays show how people tried to smuggle things. They also show the clever ways illegal goods were hidden.
Discovering the Museum's History
The museum first opened in 1994. It was a team effort between National Museums Liverpool and HM Customs & Excise. Later, in 2005, HM Customs & Excise joined with another group. They formed HM Revenue and Customs. The museum was created to teach people about smuggling. It also teaches about illegal items from the 1700s until now.
How the Museum Got Its Name
The museum has had a few different names over the years. In May 2008, it was called the HM Revenue and Customs National Museum. It was known as 'Seized! Revenue and Customs Uncovered'. Then, in 2009, it partnered with the UK Border Agency. It became the UK Border Agency National Museum. Its name changed to 'Seized! The Border and Customs Uncovered'. In 2012, the UK Border Agency changed its name to Border Force. So, the museum is now known as "Seized! The Border and Customs Uncovered Border Force National Museum".
The Museum's Location and Updates
Since May 2008, the collection has been in the basement of the Merseyside Maritime Museum. The museum worked with a company to update the exhibits. They made new displays that visitors can interact with. They also added family-friendly exhibits. These updates cost about £500,000.
