Investigation into thefts leads to departure of British Museum's deputy director

Dr Jonathan Williams, the deputy director in charge of the failed investigation into thefts at the British Museum, is leaving the institution. This development comes after an external review was conducted, but the recommendations made no mention of Dr Williams. The gem specialist, Dr Ittai Gradel, who initially raised concerns about the thefts but was ignored, stated that Dr Williams should have left his position a long time ago. He criticized the decision for Dr Williams to step back from his duties, stating that it was pointless and that he should have been removed. In February 2021, Dr Gradel alerted Dr Williams to the presence of three stolen ancient gems from the British Museum being sold on eBay. He also suggested that a senior curator at the museum was the seller, providing evidence to support his claim. However, Dr Williams did not act on this information and later claimed that an investigation had been conducted with no wrongdoing found. It was later discovered that 2,000 items had been stolen or damaged from the museum storerooms. Dr Gradel eventually escalated his concerns to trustee and chair George Osborne, leading to a police investigation. The museum did not disclose details about Dr Williams' departure or whether it was voluntary or enforced. Osborne acknowledged that the museum had not adequately responded to Dr Gradel's warning and recognized the serious consequences of this negligence. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that they have interviewed a suspect under caution and that investigations are ongoing. The BBC reached out to Dr Williams for comment.