THE long arm of the law has embraced 68 Turnbull Street for more than a century - but it was finally lifted today. District Court Number One, which over the decades has dispensed justice to thousands of Glaswegians, heard its last case.

Its neighbour, Glasgow Police Museum, is also vacating the premises, which are being closed.

New home as Police Museum saved GLASGOW Police Museum has been saved. There were fears for its future after it lost its Turnbull Street premises in the courts shake-up. The city council has offered it premises at 30 Bell Street, in nearby Merchant City. In its seven years in Turnbull Street, the museum has fascinated police enthusiasts from all over the world, played host to 55,000 visitors, and won a three-star award from tourist bosses at VisitScotland. When the axe fell last month, the Glasgow Police Heritage Society, which runs the museum, realised its options were severely limited. But they were relieved yesterday after the council said the museum could set up home in Bell Street. The new museum will not open for several months. "We are sorry to leave Turnbull Street after so many years. It has a definite place in the illustrious history of Britain's first police force," said the museum's Alastair Dinsmore, pictured left, as he oversaw the packing of the many exhibits. "But we're excited about being able to move into our new home." The council is considering how Turnbull Street can best be used in the future.

The distinctive building in St Andrews Square, just off the Saltmarket, is steeped in the history of Glasgow police, the oldest force in Britain.

It opened in 1906, home to the Central Police Court as well as the Chief Constable, and the officers of A Division, who patrolled the city centre.

In 1908, the detectives who were involved in what became known as the Oscar Slater miscarriage of justice were based in Turnbull Street.

Slater, an innocent man, served 19 years of hard labour after being wrongly convicted of murdering an elderly spinster.

The early feminist, Emmeline Pankhurst, was detained in the Turnbull Street cells after being arrested in Glasgow in 1914.

In 1921, a prison van taking an IRA terrorist to Duke Street prison was ambushed shortly after leaving Turnbull Street - court inspector Robert Johnston was killed in an exchange of gunfire in Cathedral Square.

In 1951, when police recovered the Stone of Destiny, which had been seized from Westminster Abbey by young Scottish nationalists, it was guarded overnight at the police office before being driven back to London the next day.

The Central was also where infamous characters such as serial killer Peter Manuel, gangster Jimmy Boyle and police-killer Howard Wilson were briefly detained en route to the High Court.

But after a century of service the building is now in a state of disrepair. Its owner, Glasgow City Council, is aware of damp and other problems.

The courtroom, reached via a flight of steps and a battered, scratched wooden door, still looks impressive, but it decor is outdated.

The acoustics are not good - in the well of the court, the hum of a computer printer frequently drowns out the words of the lawyers.

Above the bench is the Glasgow coat of arms, with the words Let Glasgow Flourish.' It was business as usual yesterday, the court's second last day, but the only thing that was flourishing was the usual sad procession of minor cases, many involving drink-driving.

Several people, including a pale, anxious-looking young woman, appeared before stipendiary magistrate Robin Christie while handcuffed to Reliance officers, having been arrested on warrants by police.

One accused has been using heroin for 20 years, while also having issues with alcohol and crack cocaine. Various agencies have tried to help him.

Another man was told by Mr Christie he must give 20 hours supervised attendance - and this was his "last chance." He was fined £100 for theft but was admonished on a charge of damaging a police vehicle.

The District Court building was made famous by the likes of Oscar Slater, from left, Jimmy Boyle, Peter Manuel, and Emmeline Pankhurst
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A third man, from eastern Europe, was accompanied by a female interpreter. A woman was given 18 months' probation and ordered to make herself available for addiction counselling.

Afterwards, in his chambers, his judicial wig resting on his desk, 61-year-old Mr Christie reflected on the morning's business and on the fact that, as of today, the Turnbull Street court will be no more.

On Monday, as part of a shake-up of the district courts system, it will relocate to somewhere more modern - court number two at the Sheriff Court, where it will be known as the Glasgow Justice of the Peace Court.

Mr Christie said: "It can be exceptionally busy at times. On Monday last week, we finished at 7.50pm as we had a lot of weekend custodies to deal with."

Today will be a poignant occasion for Mr Christie who, as a fiscal or magistrate, has been coming to Turnbull Street for around half of his life. "It will be a very sad day for me," he said.

At some point today, the very last case will come before Mr Christie.

"The staff will look for a case that is not too serious and try to put it through last," he said.

If things go to plan, he will formally admonish the person standing in front of him, and say, "You are free to go".

And, with that, the heavy doors will close on more than a century of law and order in Turnbull Street.