Pickpocketing sparks Louvre protest

Staff at the Louvre have walked out in protest at the rising problem of pickpockets haunting the Paris museum’s vast galleries.

The museum said in a statement yesterday it was a growing problem, despite measures taken last year including tighter co-operation with the police. Both visitors and staff were being targeted by what an union official called “increasingly aggressive” groups of pickpockets.

The Louvre said it would crack down on repeat offenders through temporary bans on entry into the museum.

The Louvre is the world’s most visited museum, with nearly nine million visitors last year.