Items from British Museum collection are 'missing, stolen or damaged'

Items from British Museum collection are found to be ‘missing, stolen or damaged’: Staff member dismissed and police are investigating

• Items included small pieces used for research that were not recently on display 

A member of staff has been dismissed and police are investigating after items from the British Museum collection were found to be ‘missing, stolen or damaged’.

The museum described the objects as small pieces, which were not recently on public display and were mainly used for research and academic work. 

The items included gold, jewellery and gems of semi-precious stones and glass dating from the 15th century BC to the 19th century AD.

The London museum, which houses artefacts from around the world, has launched an independent review of security and will be starting a ‘vigorous programme to recover the missing items’.

Legal action will be taken by the museum against the unnamed staff member, the institution said. The matter is also under investigation by the economic crime command of the Metropolitan Police.

A member of staff has been dismissed and police are investigating after items from the British Museum collection were found to be ‘missing, stolen or damaged’. Pictured: The British Museum in London

The independent review will be led by former trustee Sir Nigel Boardman, and Chief Constable of the British Transport Police, Lucy D’Orsi.

They will provide recommendations regarding future security arrangements and start ‘a vigorous programme to recover the missing items’, according to the museum.

Sir Nigel said: ‘The recovery programme will work to ensure the stolen items are returned to the museum.

‘It will be a painstaking job, involving internal and external experts, but this is an absolute priority – however long it takes – and we are grateful for the help we have already received.’

Hartwig Fischer, director of the British Museum, said: ‘This is a highly unusual incident. I know I speak for all colleagues when I say that we take the safeguarding of all the items in our care extremely seriously.

‘We have already tightened our security arrangements and we are working alongside outside experts to complete a definitive account of what is missing, damaged and stolen. This will allow us to throw our efforts into the recovery of objects.’

George Osborne, chair of the British Museum, added: ‘The trustees of the British Museum were extremely concerned when we learnt earlier this year that items of the collection had been stolen. 

‘The trustees have taken decisive action to deal with the situation, working with the team at the museum. 

‘We called in the police, imposed emergency measures to increase security, set up an independent review into what happened and lessons to learn, and used all the disciplinary powers available to us to deal with the individual we believe to be responsible. 

‘Our priority is now threefold: first, to recover the stolen items; second, to find out what, if anything, could have been done to stop this; and third, to do whatever it takes, with investment in security and collection records, to make sure this doesn’t happen again. 

‘This incident only reinforces the case for the reimagination of the museum we have embarked upon. It’s a sad day for all who love our British Museum, but we’re determined to right the wrongs and use the experience to build a stronger museum.’  

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