The cultural heritage of the United Kingdom is under threat as museums and galleries face increasing risks from cyber-attacks and theft. A recent report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has highlighted significant security failures, including the theft of thousands of artefacts from the British Museum and a devastating ransomware attack on the British Library.
These incidents have exposed serious weaknesses across the sector, yet the government has failed to implement a strategic approach to prevent similar occurrences. The report underscores the need for stronger oversight of both physical security and digital infrastructure in museums.
The British Museum Scandal and Cyber Attacks
Less than three years ago, the British Museum revealed that approximately 2,000 objects had been stolen, damaged, or gone missing over several years. This scandal led to the resignation of the museum’s director, Hartwig Fischer. In the same year, a ransomware attack on the British Library crippled its digital services for months and resulted in the theft of staff and user data.
The PAC report emphasizes that these incidents highlight the need for stronger oversight of both the physical security of collections and museums’ digital infrastructure. While the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has facilitated discussions about recent breaches, MPs noted a lack of concrete actions taken across the sector as a result.
International Scrutiny and Government Response
The concerns come amid growing international scrutiny of museum security. Last year, thieves broke into the Louvre’s Apollo gallery and stole eight priceless 19th-century French crown jewels in under eight minutes. MPs have called on the government to outline the measures museums and galleries have introduced to tackle cyber and physical security risks, including the wider use of digital record-keeping systems to prevent items from disappearing unnoticed.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown chair of the PAC, stated, “Cyber-attacks, the theft of items from collections, and a fall in the number of visitors are just some of the issues museums and galleries are fighting to overcome.” The report found that while UK museums and galleries generated £563m in self-generated income in 2026-25, a 53% real-terms increase compared with 2026-22, visitor numbers have yet to recover fully to pre-pandemic levels.
Institutions continue to face rising staffing and energy costs, and there has been a 16% real-terms reduction in government funding after emergency pandemic support ended. MPs expressed concerns that the DCMS lacks a clear picture of whether museums and galleries are delivering value for money for taxpayers and have failed to establish meaningful metrics to assess their performance.
Funding Models and Governance Concerns
The PAC also questioned whether the current funding model provides sufficient incentives for museums to become financially resilient. The government is considering proposals to charge international visitors for entry to national museums, following recommendations by the Labour peer Margaret Hodge in a recent review.
Concerns were also raised about governance across the sector. As of October 2026, 15% of trustee positions across the 15 government-sponsored museums and galleries were vacant, while the average appointment took 219 days to complete—more than double the government’s target of 90 days. MPs called on the DCMS to explain how it would ensure boards have the skills needed to oversee increasingly complex organizations.
Clifton-Brown emphasized that museums and galleries are “a treasured part of the fabric of our nation” but are being “let down by a lack of leadership” from the government. “Our museums and galleries play a priceless role in educating people, preserving our shared history, and showcasing our country to the world,” he said. “They’ve made great strides to become more financially resilient, however the lack of centralised support is leaving them vulnerable.”
Vernon Rapley a museum security consultant and former Met police art crime specialist, noted that business has been “sadly very good for me” during the last couple of years. He highlighted that museums are vulnerable due to their high-value items and public venues, making them targets for exploitation.
A DCMS spokesperson stated, “We are taking a number of concrete steps to strengthen our oversight following the National Audit Office report into financial resilience across our national museums. We will consider the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendations and respond in due course.”
