22 Oct 2012
Museums need to prioritise security
BY Kath Hudson
Thefts at regional museums are all too frequent, according to a BBC investigation by Inside Out, which will be aired in the east this evening.
The programme discovered 110 thefts have taken place over the last six years, including millions of pounds worth of Chinese art from the Fitzwilliam museum in Cambridge and a rhino horn from Ipswich.
A large number of thefts have taken place which have received no publicity, as museums are concerned about compromising the security of their artefacts.
A Museum Security Group has been set up by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, headed by Vernon Rapley, former head of Scotland Yard’s Art and Antiques Unit. He says this highlights the importance of museum security and says there are some cost effective measures available, which make the best use of the intelligence and resources museums have.
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