Today, the Head of the Forensic Science Centre at the General police Directorate solemnly presented 30 pieces of historical weapons to the Museum of Recent History of Slovenia. The weapons that will enrich the museum's collection were delivered to its director Jože Dežman.

Some of these weapons that were seized or found by the police while performing their work originate from World War II, however, some artefacts are even older and were used in other wars and conflicts that took place on the Slovenian territory. There are various guns, revolvers and pistols which are of historic value and will therefore not be destroyed.

"I am convinced that these weapons will additionally enrich the collection of the Museum of Recent History and that this is not the end of our cooperation", said Franc Sablič when delivering the weapons. The Director of the Museum of Recent History of Slovenia Jože Dežman thanked the police for donated weapons and stressed that "today's event brings recognition to everybody active in this field and proves that people are extremely interested in weapons".

Starting from the left-hand side: the police public relations officer for criminal issues Drago Menegalija, the Head of the Forensic Science Centre at the General police Directorate Franc Sablič and the Director of the Museum of Recent History of Slovenia Jože Dežman.

Franc Sablič (left) solemnly presented the weapons to the Director of the Museum of Recent History of Slovenia Jože Dežman.

The Slovenian Police keeps a central magazine of seized, found and confiscated weapons until decisions on criminal and offence proceedings become final. When cases are finally decided, such weapons are examined and assessed by a special commission appointed by the Minister of the Interior in accordance with the Instruction on dealing with delivered, found, seized and confiscated weapons. The respective weapons can be earmarked for sale, destruction, donation, permanent collection and operative requirements of the police (if they meet the rules regulating police equipment).

More about classification and types of weapons was explained by the senior curator of the Museum of Recent History of Slovenia Vanja Martinčič.

The commission may only deliver the weapons of historical, artistic or scientific value after the preliminary opinion of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Culture. Such opinion is not necessary in the case weapons are donated to a national museum. In August, the police donated 22 pieces of weapons from World War I to Kobarid Museum, the total number of weapons donated to museums in the recent years already amounts to approximately 50 pieces.