UK museums and galleries left vulnerable to cyber-attacks and theft, MPs warn | Museums

Britain’s museums and galleries are being left vulnerable to theft and cyber-attacks that could put valuable assets at risk, MPs have warned.

A report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said major security failures in recent years, including the theft of thousands of artefacts from the British Museum and the devastating cyber-attack on the British Library, showed serious weaknesses in all areas, but that the government failed to take measures to prevent similar incidents.

The warning comes less than three years after the British Museum revealed that nearly 2,000 items had been stolen, damaged or missing from its collection over the years, in a scandal. resignation of its directorHartwig Fischer.

That same year, a ransomware attack on the British Library it disabled its digital services for months and led to the theft of staff and user data.

The committee said that such incidents highlight the need for stricter monitoring of the security of collections and digital assets of museums. Although the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) led the inquiry into the latest breach, MPs say they have failed to recognize what has happened across the country.

The revelations come amid a major review of museum security around the world. Last year, thieves broke into the Louvre’s Apollo museum and stole eight 19th-century French jewels in eight minutes.

MPs have called on the government to explain what museums and galleries have in place to tackle cyber security and physical security threats, including making greater use of digital storage systems that can help prevent inadvertent disclosure.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chairman of the PAC, said: “Cyber-attacks, theft of collections, and declining visitor numbers are just some of the challenges museums and galleries are facing.”

The report found that although UK museums and galleries generated £563m in revenue in 2024-25 – a real increase of 53% compared to 2021-22 – visitor numbers had not returned to pre-pandemic levels and institutions continue to face rising staff and energy costs. There was also a 16% real reduction in government spending after the emergency relief package ended.

MPs said the DCMS did not have a clear picture of whether museums and galleries were providing tax payers, and had failed to establish clear metrics to measure their performance.

The PAC also questioned whether the current funding system provides enough incentives to keep museums financially resilient. It said that the government is considering it proposals for payment of foreign tourists to access the museum, following suggestions made by Labor peer Margaret Hodge in a recent review.

Complaints were also made about governance across the region. By October 2025, 15% of trustee posts in the 15 state-funded museums were vacant, with the average appointment taking 219 days to complete – more than double the government’s target of 90 days. MPs called on the DCMS to explain how it will ensure boards have the capacity to manage the growing number of organisations.

Clifton-Brown said museums and galleries “are a valuable part of our country” but she is “frustrated by the lack of leadership” from the government.

“Our museums and galleries play an important role in educating the public, preserving our shared history and showcasing our country to the world,” he said. “They have done very well to become financially resilient, yet the lack of central support leaves them vulnerable.”

Vernon Rapley, a security consultant at the museum, said business has “been very sad for me” over the past few years. Rapley, a former Met police criminologist, was head of security at the V&A for 15 years.

He said: “Museums are at risk, they have valuable things, they are world famous, public places, and people may want to take advantage of them.”

“I have been abandoned because of how people are suffering British Museum The theft highlighted an internal threat, while a cyber attack could cause long-term damage to the collection system. And you’ve been in a strange robbery at the Louvre. Although there is evidence that it is not known, every director in the country is afraid that it will happen to them. “