Countering

Guy Tubiana
Today, a central network monitored by the Ministère de l’Intérieur was implemented
in 2007. If security is breached in a partner museum, it alerts law enforcement forces in
real time. The measures implemented in case of theft differ whether the theft takes place
during opening or closing hours. Conversely, they depend mainly on the sites, and the
strategy chosen by each museum. In addition, the scope of any theft prevention mission
supersedes the sole protection of museums now encompassing other places of interest,
such as religious and historic monuments, archives and archeological sites. The expertise
of law enforcement officers lies in an acute knowledge of the modus operandi of thieving
minds, reinforced by first-hand experience in prevention and apprehension.
While a security adviser will focus on the most efficient technological equipments,
a law enforcement officer is most likely to actively discourage criminal intention. They
are familiar with the way a criminal mind works, and can anticipate flaws in security
and protection or possible escape routes. And so, preventive measures against theft
(routine perimeter checks, object surveillance, etc.) are to be undertaken to gauge the
threat levels by potential aggressors, determine the threat environment and the best
protective measures so as to establish an action plan for efficient response. The measures
implemented in case of theft differ whether it takes place during the opening or the
closing hours. But it mainly depends on the sites, and the strategy chosen by each
museum.
Routine perimeter checks and object surveillance altogether are thus among the
necessary steps for risk preparedness to ensure viable protection. In recent years, law
enforcement officers have been trained to offer an immediate and appropriate response to
a theft. There are now two police officers in charge of prevention in all French museums,
whether national and unlabelled museums or private venues. The team may be required
to protect a high-profile exhibition offsite, assess security provision at host venues – a
town hall or company office – and improve protection, if required.
Conclusion
In 2010, the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication issued an information
guide on the security of cultural objects for public and private owners. Concerning the
fight against illicit trafficking, it is stated therein that the following measures are to be
implemented simultaneously: i) reinforce theft prevention, ii) raise awareness in public
and private owners of cultural goods, iii) create and provide appropriate documentation
(guidelines, tools, reports) and iv) improve communication between collaborators
involved.
Efforts to attain these objectives must be maintained, for museum collections are
constantly in jeopardy. Yet constant efforts to improve their protection are to be observed
in France, especially in recent years. The museum security expert intervenes to shed light
on the existing, or potential security vulnerabilities into buildings which may be designbased,
or concern access and adjacency as well as logistic requirements. Thus, capacity
building in museum security, close collaboration between security experts and museum
professionals must come foremost, and dialogue at a local, national and international
level is essential.
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