The Criminal Museum was founded in 1908. As a result of the collection work of many years, the museum had obtained more than 10.000 items by the year 1918. However, during World War II the collection was almost totally destroyed.

Items were collected once again between 1958 and 1963, and the exhibition was rearranged in the former prison house at 9 Mosonyi Rd., District 8. The institute obtained the operation permission in 1967, but for the first 30 years it was only visitable by a narrow class working in the profession. In 1997 the museum was shut down and the items were placed into a store.

In the second half of 1998 decision was made about the reconstruction of the museum. Besides the demand for extending the exhibition space, the museum had to be accredited according to a new law passed in 1997 (CXL). This was done in January 2000.

After a 4-month period of day and night work the museum was opened at a new place, in a new form, and under a new name: Police History Museum. The opening ceremony was accompanied by the speeches of dr. Zsolt Visy (Ministry of National Cultural Inheritage) and dr. Péter Orbán (National Police Headquarters).