SEIZED! Revenue & Customs Uncovered
New gallery opens at Merseyside Maritime Museum

A new permanent gallery at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, with two fun-filled days of activities.

It gives people the opportunity to explore the fascinating and controversial world of the government department HMRC, unveiling all manner of weird and wonderful attempts at smuggling and tax evasion that have kept our Customs Officers on their toes over the years!

The exhibition focuses on detective work, fighting crime, patrolling rontiers, catching criminals, undercover surveillance and an insight into the motives of the bad guys.

Visitors can expect to see a variety of objects on display for the first time, including items used for drugs smuggling such as carved African tatues and garden gnomes, a chilling collection of smuggled weapons, and an emotive display of tourist souvenirs made out of endangered species.

Saturday and Sunday's activities will focus on themes associated with key areas of the gallery with displays by a Customs Detection Dog Team and, as long as it's not called out on an official operation, a visit by a Cutter. These fast and powerful vessels use high-tech equipment to guard the coastlines of Britain, intercepting smugglers trying to sneak goods such as drugs, into the country.

The new gallery features a host of interactive activities to engage visitors including a specially designed interactive console, which allows you to control your own cutter to help catch - professional smugglers.

Spot the Suspect Traveller focuses on passengers using ports and airports and the ploys some of them use to smuggle illegal goods.
Another section explores the adulteration of food and drink revealing that substances such as excrement and hedge clippings have been added to tea and coffee in the past in a bid to boost profits.

There will also be opportunities throughout the weekend for children to take part in 'rummaging', searching a replica ship's cabin to locate smuggled goods; a job that is still an important part of a Customs Officer's work.

Other activities this weekend will include a passport trail, face Painting, the Maritime Museum's ever popular 'Dockwatch', and visits from several characters including sneaky magicians, who may just plant something on you to smuggle through the museum!

The museum's learning officers will also be on hand over the weekend to chat about featured programmes, and on Sunday 18 May there will be a performance by pupils from specialist sports college Claremount School, who have worked with museum staff to develop a piece on the effects of gang and weapon crime.

Merseyside Maritime Museum Albert Dock, Liverpool Admission FREE
Open 10am-5pm every day Information 0151 478 4499
Website liverpoolmuseums.org.uk