Dr Angie Sutton-Vane
I have the privilege of combining a long career in museums and archives with academic study around conservation, material culture and history and my research interests stem from this academic and professional coalescence. Working for a number of years as the curator of a police museum and archive inspired my deep interest in exploring the ‘archival coalface’ and how, in particular, police records are preserved – or not preserved – for historical posterity or for accountability. My research explores that important intersection between collective and personal memory, or emotion, versus often conflicting interests of organisational records management protocols and frequent misinterpretion of laws around data protection, freedom of information or the Public Records Act.
Broadly speaking, my research covers contemporary history and policy, the preservation of policing history, museology, material culture, public and criminal justice history, collective and organisational memory and narratives from the archive.
Overview of current or recent work and research:
From March 2026 I will be serving as a panel member on the Orgreave Inquiry, employing my experience of evidence-based research, historical accountability and the archiving, preservation of and access to police force records to support the panel’s work.
I work as a visiting fellow and consultant in the Department of History at the Open University supporting research projects and the development of educational material. This is largely around the history of policing in the twentieth century, as well as the preparation of material and online resources to support police forces in taking forward their Race Action Plan agendas. In addition, I continue to work as a freelance writer and researcher.
I have supported and advised the Archives and Records Association’s Campaign for Records, and have sat on Home Office working groups examining police records, the role of the Public Records Act and the recently published Authorised Professional Practice on the Archiving of police records in the public interest.
Memberships:
