The Royal Ulster Constabulary
George Cross Historical Society
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2023.
The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of
Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial
Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effectivc l January 2019).
INCORPORATION
Tbe charitable company, The Police Historical Society (N.I.) (Incorporating the RUC GC Historical Society)
was incorporated on I l May 2017.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Historical Society exists to advance public education and
understanding of the history of policing in Ireland. It does this through its ownership and management of its
historic collection of police artefacts held in the Police Museum at PSNI Headquarters.
The collection covers the history of policing in the North of Ireland from the early 1800s to the Present day.
The collection includes uniforms, equipment, medals, weapons, vehicles, posters and archives from the early
1800's onwards.
The museum is located at PSNI Headquarters in Belfast and is open daily to the public. It provides outside
exhibitions and collaborates both with the Northern Ireland Museums Council and other local museums. The
Hon. Secretary/Curator gives regular talks both to visiting individuals and groups and to interested outside
bodies. AJ] annual talks programme is produced for society members and it is hoped to restart the society
journal in a digital fonnat, having been in abeyance since COVID.
Significant activities
Museum activities continued to recover throughout the year in the aftennath of COVID.
Staff continued to maintain an historical and genealogical enquiry service in rcsponse to queries and carried
out historical research on aspects of police history and on artefacts held in the collection. From autumn 2021
the Curator moved to work on a phased retirement basis of three days per week.
The development work for a new museum reached fruition with the signing of a memorandum of
understanding between the society and the PSNI for the governance and nmning of the planned new
museum. This allowed the museum to achieve full museum accreditation status with the Arts Council.
During the year major exhibitions were mounted at the Police College to celebrate the centenary of policing
in Northern Ireland and 50 years of the police part-time reserve. A growing number of talks were given
throughout th¢ year to a range of outside bodies, such as local history and genealogical societies.
The society's monthly talks programme continued and thanks must go to Dr Lavinia Boyce for putting
together an interesting and varied programme. The society hope in to have a zoom facility to allow a
wider audience for the talks.
During the year the resignation of all the trustees to the original trust deeds of 1993 and 2003 were secured
and the society awaits confinllation from the Charity Commission Nl that it may now transfer it's assets and
transition to the new charitable company.
Page I

The Royal Ulster Constabulary
George Cross Historical Society
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
STRUCTURE, GOVERIqANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated
charity.
Organisational structure
The Society is governed by a management committee elected annually at the society AGM, comprising the
following office bearers: Chair (vacant), 2 Vice Chairs, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Assistant Secretary,
Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Assistant Treasurer, Membership Secretary and in the period in question 6
trustees. The management committee meets every two months to receive reports from the society office
bearers. Office bearers and trustees receive no remuneration in respect of their services to the charity.
The management committee delegates the day-to-day management of the collection and the Police Museum
to the Honorary Secretary, who is also Curator of the Police Museum and as such a part-time PSNI
employee. The Curator is assisted by an assistant who is also a full-time PSNI employee
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number
100306
Principal address
PSNI Headquarters
65 Knock Road
Belfast
Co. Antrim
BT5 6LE
Trustees
Mr Thomas Fulton
Mr Frederick Hall
Mr DavÈd Orr Vice Chair
Mr Robert James Black Hon. Assistant Secretary
Dr Lavinia Boyce Hon. Treasurer
Mr George Clarke Vice Chair
Mr William Swann (Resigned August 2022)
Mr Geofftey Ward
Mr Ronald Galwey
Ms Frances Andrea Morrow
Mr Gavin Boyd
Mr Hugh Fo￿ester Hon. Secretary
Mr Philip Robinson (Appointed September 2022)
Independent Examiner
John Mccleary FCA
Mccleary & Company Ltd
Chartered Accountants
Garvey Studios
14 Longstone Street
Lisburn
Co. Antrim
BT28 ITP
Page 2

The Royal Ulster Constabulary
George Cross Historical Society
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 July 2023
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Bankers
Danske Bank
520 Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast
BT43HD
Solicitors
Edwards and Company
28 Hill Street
Belfast
BTI 2LA
Approved by order of the board of trustecs on 16 October 2023 and signed on its behalf by..
ge Clarke - Trustee
Page 3