{"word_count": 415, "character_count": 2517}
Wednesday, 15th April 2015Vernon Rapley Security Director at the Victoria &#38; Albert Museum,Will speak on  Art Criminals and the art of fraud  Vernon has over the course of his career investigated with Shaun Greenhalgh, the most diverse forger he dealt with forging Egyptian sculpture, Lowry pastels, Hepworth terracottas, Roman silver and much more, Robert Thwaites, who forged works by John Anster Fitzgerald, John Andrews who created and sold Egyptian antiquities on the internet, Ashley Russell, who forged and faked hundreds of pieces of Georgian Silver, Jonathan Reyfern who forged the work of Tracey Emin and William Mumford who forged hundreds of paintings, many in the style of Indian Progressive movement artists. He will provide a detectives perspective on art and cultural heritage crime. He will draw on his personal experience of investigating art criminals around the world to provide a snapshot of the ‘real’ world of art crime, often distinct from public perception. He will then focus in on the methods and motives of art forgers and fakers, exploring the diversity of their trade and the complexity of task of detecting and imprisoning them.  Vernon Rapley is the Security Director at the Victoria &#38; Albert Museum, the 'Worlds leading museum of art and design'. He is also; the founder and chairman of the National Museum Security Group, the UK lead for Tourism on the Cross-sector Security and Safety Communications Group and a member of the ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) Heritage and Cultural Property Crime Working Group.  Before joining the V&#38;A in 2010, he served as a police officer for 24 years, the last 10 years as the head of the Art &#38; Antiques Unit at New Scotland Yard. During that time he overtly and covertly investigated all manner of art and cultural property crime. He formed a number of long lasting community partnerships, including the creation of ArtBEAT, a unique use of expert volunteers, drawn from the art community to assist the police.  Towards the end of his police career he organised two exhibitions of Fakes &#38; Forgeries, the last one in early 2010 attracted 30,000 visitors in just 3 weeks. Venue: In the Robing Room at Freemason's Hall, 60 Great Queen Street London WC2B 5AZ.  Freemasons Hall is close to both Covent Garden and Holborn Tube Stations.  Doors open at 6pm. Talk 6.30pm – 8pm Please apply for tickets through Eventbrite. Please note: There is a small booking fee and no refunds can be made up to two days before the event.