diff --git a/apps/web/app/api/v1/tasks/[id]/cancel/route.ts b/apps/web/app/api/v1/tasks/[id]/cancel/route.ts
index 9d63979..49cedf7 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/api/v1/tasks/[id]/cancel/route.ts
+++ b/apps/web/app/api/v1/tasks/[id]/cancel/route.ts
@@ -47,20 +47,61 @@ export async function POST(
         "Task does not have an active agent run.",
       );
     }
-    const gateway = await fetch(
-      `${process.env.AGENT_GATEWAY_URL ?? "http://agent-gateway:3002"}/v1/runs/${encodeURIComponent(task.agentRunId)}/cancel`,
-      {
-        headers: agentGatewayHeaders(subject.organisationId),
-        method: "POST",
-        signal: AbortSignal.timeout(5_000),
-      },
-    );
-    const result = (await gateway.json()) as {
-      status?: string;
-      error?: string;
-    };
-    if (!gateway.ok)
-      throw new Error(result.error ?? "Agent cancellation failed");
+    // A run whose lease and deadline have both passed cannot still be
+    // executing, so the gateway's opinion is not required to release it.
+    // Without this a wedged run — worker died, lease expired, gateway lost
+    // the record — leaves the task permanently undeletable and undispatchable.
+    const [run] = await database()
+      .select({
+        leaseExpiresAt: schema.agentRuns.leaseExpiresAt,
+        deadlineAt: schema.agentRuns.deadlineAt,
+      })
+      .from(schema.agentRuns)
+      .where(
+        and(
+          eq(schema.agentRuns.id, task.agentRunId),
+          eq(schema.agentRuns.organisationId, subject.organisationId),
+        ),
+      )
+      .limit(1);
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const stale =
+      !run ||
+      ((run.leaseExpiresAt === null || run.leaseExpiresAt.getTime() < now) &&
+        (run.deadlineAt === null || run.deadlineAt.getTime() < now));
+
+    let result: { status?: string; error?: string } = {};
+    let gatewayConfirmed = false;
+    let gatewayError: string | null = null;
+    try {
+      const gateway = await fetch(
+        `${process.env.AGENT_GATEWAY_URL ?? "http://agent-gateway:3002"}/v1/runs/${encodeURIComponent(task.agentRunId)}/cancel`,
+        {
+          headers: agentGatewayHeaders(subject.organisationId),
+          method: "POST",
+          signal: AbortSignal.timeout(5_000),
+        },
+      );
+      result = (await gateway.json().catch(() => ({}))) as typeof result;
+      gatewayConfirmed = gateway.ok;
+      if (!gateway.ok)
+        gatewayError = result.error ?? `Agent gateway returned ${gateway.status}`;
+    } catch (cause) {
+      gatewayError =
+        cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : "Agent gateway is unreachable";
+    }
+
+    // Only force the release when the run provably cannot still be alive.
+    // Otherwise refuse, so Muster never reports a run cancelled while the
+    // gateway is still executing it.
+    if (!gatewayConfirmed && !stale) {
+      throw new ApiProblem(
+        502,
+        "Cancellation not confirmed",
+        `The agent gateway did not confirm cancellation and this run may still be executing. ${gatewayError ?? ""}`.trim(),
+      );
+    }
+
     await settleAgentRun(
       {
         organisationId: subject.organisationId,
@@ -71,10 +112,15 @@ export async function POST(
       task.agentRunId,
       {
         status: "cancelled",
-        error: "Cancelled by operator",
+        error: gatewayConfirmed
+          ? "Cancelled by operator"
+          : `Force-released by operator; agent gateway did not confirm (${gatewayError ?? "no response"}). Lease and deadline had already passed.`,
       },
     );
-    return Response.json({ data: result, traceId }, { status: 202 });
+    return Response.json(
+      { data: { ...result, gatewayConfirmed, forced: !gatewayConfirmed }, traceId },
+      { status: 202 },
+    );
   } catch (error) {
     return problemResponse(error, traceId);
   }
diff --git a/apps/web/app/api/v1/tasks/[id]/route.ts b/apps/web/app/api/v1/tasks/[id]/route.ts
index 9acd02a..9cfb075 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/api/v1/tasks/[id]/route.ts
+++ b/apps/web/app/api/v1/tasks/[id]/route.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { requireCapability } from "@muster/authz";
 import { TaskPrioritySchema, TaskStatusSchema } from "@muster/contracts";
 import { z } from "zod";
 import { apiSubject, problemResponse, requestTraceId } from "@/lib/api-context";
-import { updateTask, type TaskChanges } from "@/lib/task-domain";
+import { archiveTask, updateTask, type TaskChanges } from "@/lib/task-domain";
 
 const UpdateTaskSchema = z
   .object({
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ const UpdateTaskSchema = z
     relatedCaseId: z.string().trim().max(160).nullable().optional(),
     approvalRequired: z.boolean().optional(),
     dueAt: z.iso.datetime({ offset: true }).nullable().optional(),
+    /** Soft delete. Rows stay for audit correspondence. */
+    archived: z.boolean().optional(),
   })
   .refine((value) => Object.keys(value).length > 0, "No task changes supplied");
 
@@ -31,7 +33,22 @@ export async function PATCH(
     const input = UpdateTaskSchema.parse(await request.json());
     if (input.assignedActorId !== undefined)
       requireCapability(subject, "tasks.assign");
-    const { dueAt, ...unfilteredChanges } = input;
+    const { dueAt, archived, ...unfilteredChanges } = input;
+    if (archived !== undefined) {
+      const result = await archiveTask(
+        {
+          organisationId: subject.organisationId,
+          actorId: subject.actorId,
+          traceId,
+        },
+        id,
+        archived,
+      );
+      // Archive is its own operation; it does not combine with field edits.
+      if (Object.keys(unfilteredChanges).length === 0 && dueAt === undefined) {
+        return Response.json({ data: result, traceId });
+      }
+    }
     const changes = Object.fromEntries(
       Object.entries(unfilteredChanges).filter(
         ([, value]) => value !== undefined,
diff --git a/apps/web/features/operations/operations-view.test.ts b/apps/web/features/operations/operations-view.test.ts
index aa1da75..171aabb 100644
--- a/apps/web/features/operations/operations-view.test.ts
+++ b/apps/web/features/operations/operations-view.test.ts
@@ -129,3 +129,45 @@ describe("Stuck and failed agent work", () => {
     );
   });
 });
+
+describe("Removing work from the board", () => {
+  it("archives rather than deletes, so audit correspondence survives", async () => {
+    const view = await source("./operations-view.tsx");
+    expect(view).toContain("useArchiveTask");
+    expect(view).toContain("Archive");
+    expect(view).toContain("audit trail");
+  });
+
+  it("refuses to archive a task with a live run", async () => {
+    const view = await source("./operations-view.tsx");
+    expect(view).toContain("Cancel the active run before archiving");
+    const domain = await readFile(
+      new URL("../../lib/task-domain.ts", import.meta.url),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    expect(domain).toContain("Cancel the active agent run before archiving");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("Force-releasing a wedged run", () => {
+  it("only forces when the run provably cannot still be executing", async () => {
+    const route = await readFile(
+      new URL("../../app/api/v1/tasks/[id]/cancel/route.ts", import.meta.url),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    // Both clocks must have passed; a live run must never be reported cancelled.
+    expect(route).toContain("leaseExpiresAt");
+    expect(route).toContain("deadlineAt");
+    expect(route).toContain("if (!gatewayConfirmed && !stale)");
+    expect(route).toContain("may still be executing");
+  });
+
+  it("records that the gateway did not confirm", async () => {
+    const route = await readFile(
+      new URL("../../app/api/v1/tasks/[id]/cancel/route.ts", import.meta.url),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    expect(route).toContain("Force-released by operator");
+    expect(route).toContain("gatewayConfirmed");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/web/features/operations/operations-view.tsx b/apps/web/features/operations/operations-view.tsx
index 8d9cd25..60ed713 100644
--- a/apps/web/features/operations/operations-view.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/features/operations/operations-view.tsx
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   type ComposerSeed,
 } from "@/features/operations/task-composer";
 import {
+  useArchiveTask,
   useCancelTaskRun,
   useDelegateTask,
   useTasks,
@@ -494,6 +495,7 @@ export function OperationsView() {
 function DetailDrawer({ item }: { item: BoardItem | null }) {
   const delegateTask = useDelegateTask();
   const cancelRun = useCancelTaskRun();
+  const archiveTask = useArchiveTask();
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [notice, setNotice] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
@@ -536,6 +538,22 @@ function DetailDrawer({ item }: { item: BoardItem | null }) {
     }
   }
 
+  async function archive() {
+    if (!item) return;
+    setError(null);
+    setNotice(null);
+    try {
+      await archiveTask.mutateAsync({ id: item.id, archived: true });
+      setNotice("Archived. The row is kept so its audit trail stays intact.");
+    } catch (caught) {
+      setError(
+        caught instanceof Error
+          ? caught.message
+          : "Could not archive the task.",
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
   return (
     <aside className="rounded-md border border-border bg-card p-4">
       <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold">{item.title}</h2>
@@ -565,6 +583,20 @@ function DetailDrawer({ item }: { item: BoardItem | null }) {
                 {cancelRun.isPending ? "Cancelling…" : "Cancel run"}
               </Button>
             ) : null}
+            <Button
+              type="button"
+              size="sm"
+              variant="ghost"
+              disabled={hasActiveRun(item) || archiveTask.isPending}
+              title={
+                hasActiveRun(item)
+                  ? "Cancel the active run before archiving"
+                  : "Remove from the board; the row and its audit trail are kept"
+              }
+              onClick={() => void archive()}
+            >
+              {archiveTask.isPending ? "Archiving…" : "Archive"}
+            </Button>
             <Button
               type="button"
               size="sm"
diff --git a/apps/web/lib/queries/hooks.ts b/apps/web/lib/queries/hooks.ts
index d66d557..9b41510 100644
--- a/apps/web/lib/queries/hooks.ts
+++ b/apps/web/lib/queries/hooks.ts
@@ -336,6 +336,29 @@ export function useCreateTask() {
   });
 }
 
+/**
+ * Soft-delete a work item. The row stays for audit correspondence; every
+ * list already filters on archivedAt.
+ */
+export function useArchiveTask() {
+  const client = useQueryClient();
+  return useMutation({
+    mutationFn: async (input: { id: string; archived: boolean }) => {
+      const res = await apiPatch<{ id: string; archived: boolean }>(
+        `/api/v1/tasks/${input.id}`,
+        { archived: input.archived },
+      );
+      return res.data;
+    },
+    onSuccess: async () => {
+      await Promise.all([
+        client.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: queryKeys.tasks }),
+        client.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: queryKeys.commandSummary }),
+      ]);
+    },
+  });
+}
+
 /**
  * Cancel a task's in-flight agent run. Without this a run wedged at
  * queued/running (gateway crash, expired lease) blocks re-dispatch forever
diff --git a/apps/web/lib/task-domain.ts b/apps/web/lib/task-domain.ts
index efd5e32..5817fc4 100644
--- a/apps/web/lib/task-domain.ts
+++ b/apps/web/lib/task-domain.ts
@@ -239,6 +239,68 @@ export async function updateTask(
   });
 }
 
+/**
+ * Soft-delete a work item. Rows stay for audit correspondence — the board and
+ * every list already filter on archivedAt — so this is reversible and never
+ * orphans an audit event that references the task.
+ */
+export async function archiveTask(
+  context: TaskMutationContext,
+  taskId: string,
+  archived: boolean,
+) {
+  return database().transaction(async (tx) => {
+    const [existing] = await tx
+      .select({
+        id: schema.tasks.id,
+        agentRunStatus: schema.tasks.agentRunStatus,
+        archivedAt: schema.tasks.archivedAt,
+      })
+      .from(schema.tasks)
+      .where(
+        and(
+          eq(schema.tasks.id, taskId),
+          eq(schema.tasks.organisationId, context.organisationId),
+        ),
+      )
+      .limit(1);
+    if (!existing) throw new ApiProblem(404, "Not found", "Task not found.");
+    // Archiving a task with a live run would hide work that is still burning
+    // budget and may still write evidence. Cancel it first.
+    if (
+      archived &&
+      (existing.agentRunStatus === "queued" ||
+        existing.agentRunStatus === "running")
+    ) {
+      throw new ApiProblem(
+        409,
+        "Run in progress",
+        "Cancel the active agent run before archiving this task.",
+      );
+    }
+    if (Boolean(existing.archivedAt) === archived) {
+      return { id: taskId, archived, duplicate: true };
+    }
+    await tx
+      .update(schema.tasks)
+      .set({ archivedAt: archived ? new Date() : null, updatedAt: new Date() })
+      .where(
+        and(
+          eq(schema.tasks.id, taskId),
+          eq(schema.tasks.organisationId, context.organisationId),
+        ),
+      );
+    await recordMutation(
+      tx,
+      context,
+      taskId,
+      archived ? "task.archived" : "task.restored",
+      { agentRunStatus: existing.agentRunStatus },
+    );
+    return { id: taskId, archived, duplicate: false };
+  });
+}
+
 export type AcceptedAgentRun = {
   runId: string;
   status: string;