Evening Talks
Explore the history of policing on Bow Street with our programme of guest speakers and evening events.
Events

Join us in person at the Museum.
The Crime Lab: Fingerprint Masterclass
Thursday 21st August 2025 18:30 (doors open 18:15)
Former Detective Chief Inspector Steve Gaskin had many cases solved by fingerprint experts whilst in the Metropolitan Police. The study of fingerprints and their history is fascinating. It has led to the downfall of many seasoned criminals, such as the Great Train Robbers, and those involved in the Docklands bombing. The science has developed over the years from using black dusting powder to laser illumination.
During the session, Steve will deliver the following:
- Explore a short history of fingerprint forensics
- The science of fingerprinting, dactyloscopy, explained
- Take your own fingerprints and dust for hidden marks!
- Investigate several fingerprint cases which went to Bow Street Magistrates Court specifically the Air Raid Killer
- Discover how fingerprints appear in the natural world
- Q & A
This is a hands-on session!
Steve Gaskin was a DCI in the Met, serving at busy police stations in the Metropolis. Notably, he spent a total of ten years investigating drug trafficking and the money generated from crime. He retrained as a criminal psychology lecturer and runs The Crime Lab, specialising in true crime-based activities, with his wife Kate (a former Met officer) and his three daughters.
Timings: doors open at 18:45. The workshop begins at 19.00 and lasts approximately 75 minutes, including a Q&A with the audience.
Conditions of entry: this event is recommended for anyone over the age of 16 years.
Tickets: Due to the hands-on nature of the workshop, this is strictly an in-person event and attendance online is not available. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
Prices to attend at the Museum: £20/ £16.00 Friends.
Book now
Join us in person at the museum
Sister In Law: Fighting for Justice in a System Designed by Men
Thursday 18th September 2025, 18:30 (Doors open at 18:15)
Join Harriet Wistrich, Solicitor, CEO of Centre for Women’s Justice and author of the book ‘Sister in Law: Fighting for Justice in a system Designed by Men.’
Discover her ground-breaking career through her many high-profile cases around violence against women, including on behalf of women who challenged the police and parole board in the John Worboys case, women deceived in relationships by undercover police officers and on behalf of women appealing murder convictions for killing abusive partners, most recently Sally Challen and Farieissia Martin
Harriet will define the work of the legal charity, Centre for Women’s Justice, which she founded ten years ago, and the model of practice they have developed involving both strategic litigation and increasing access to justice for women subject to male violence who are failed by the criminal justice system.
Her presentation will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.
Harriet Wistrich is the founder and CEO of the Centre for Women’s Justice and a solicitor of 30 years experienced who worked for many years with renowned civil liberties firm, Birnberg Peirce Ltd. She is the winner of the Liberty Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award 2014, Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2018 for public law and Law Society Gazette personality of the year 2019. She is also founder member of the campaign group, Justice for Women and trustee of the charity, the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize.
Harriet has been at the forefront of some historic and ground-breaking legal victories. Frequently working with women who have survived male violence or abuse, sometimes with the bereaved families of those who did not survive, her work has led her to challenge the police, CPS, government departments and the prison and immigration detention system.
In her book, ‘Sister in Law’, which was Longlisted for the 2025 Women Prize Harriet tells the shocking stories of some of those who have come to her for assistance and shines a feminist light on the landscape of arcane laws and byzantine systems, skewed towards male behaviour and responses, through which she has steered them.
Timings: doors open at 18:15. The talk begins at 18:30 and lasts approximately 75 minutes, including a Q&A with the audience.
Conditions of entry: this event is recommended for anyone over the age of 16 years.
Tickets: there are two ways to attend this event, in person at Bow Street Museum of Crime and Justice, or online via a live stream (using Zoom).
Price to attend at the Museum: £12
Book now
Join us online via Zoom
Sister In Law: Fighting for Justice in a System Designed by Men
Thursday 18th September 2025, 18:30
Join Harriet Wistrich, Solicitor, CEO of Centre for Women’s Justice and author of the book ‘Sister in Law: Fighting for Justice in a system Designed by Men.’
Discover her ground-breaking career through her many high-profile cases around violence against women, including on behalf of women who challenged the police and parole board in the John Worboys case, women deceived in relationships by undercover police officers and on behalf of women appealing murder convictions for killing abusive partners, most recently Sally Challen and Farieissia Martin
Harriet will define the work of the legal charity, Centre for Women’s Justice, which she founded ten years ago, and the model of practice they have developed involving both strategic litigation and increasing access to justice for women subject to male violence who are failed by the criminal justice system.
Her presentation will be followed by an audience Q&A.
Harriet Wistrich is the founder and CEO of the Centre for Women’s Justice and a solicitor of 30 years experienced who worked for many years with renowned civil liberties firm, Birnberg Peirce Ltd. She is the winner of the Liberty Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award 2014, Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2018 for public law and Law Society Gazette personality of the year 2019. She is also founder member of the campaign group, Justice for Women and trustee of the charity, the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize.
Harriet has been at the forefront of some historic and ground-breaking legal victories. Frequently working with women who have survived male violence or abuse, sometimes with the bereaved families of those who did not survive, her work has led her to challenge the police, CPS, government departments and the prison and immigration detention system.
In her book, ‘Sister in Law’, which was Longlisted for the 2025 Women Prize Harriet tells the shocking stories of some of those who have come to her for assistance and shines a feminist light on the landscape of arcane laws and byzantine systems, skewed towards male behaviour and responses, through which she has steered them.
Timings: The talk begins at 18:30 and lasts approximately 75 minutes, including a Q&A with the audience.
Conditions of entry: this event is recommended for anyone over the age of 16 years.
Tickets: there are two ways to attend this event, in person at Bow Street Museum of Crime and Justice, or online via a live stream (using Zoom).
Price to attend online: £6.00
Book now