Police drop investigation into British Empire and Commonwealth Museum
No one charged over sales of museum objects taken from the collection
By Gareth Harris. Web only
Published online: 23 February 2012
An investigation into the unauthorised disposal of objects from the Bristol-based British Empire and Commonwealth Museum has been dropped by Avon and Somerset police. The museum’s former director, Gareth Griffiths, left in February last year. The chairman of the museum's trustees, Sir Neil Cossons, gave as the reason for his dismissal “the unauthorised disposal of museum objects”, and the director's “abuse of his position”.
“In March 2011 police received an allegation of theft in connection with the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol… following the investigation, and after consultation with the crown prosecution service, it was considered that there was insufficient evidence to bring any criminal charges,” says a police spokesman.
The trustees responded yesterday with a statement, saying: “[We] have been advised by Avon and Somerset Police that they do not intend to bring a criminal prosecution against the museum's former director [Griffiths] who was dismissed on 17 February 2011. The trustees are taking legal advice on the museum’s civil law remedies in respect of these matters.”
Griffiths could not be contacted for a comment but released a statement through his solicitors in March 2011 saying that any objects were disposed of with the knowledge and agreement of the trustees and receipts were fully audited. “Any suggestion that our client has profited from the disposal will be vigorously defended,” said Griffiths's solicitor at the time.
