Heritage Crime

Any offence which harms the value of England's heritage assets and their settings to this and future generations 

This now includes culutral objects. 

Research into the scale of heritage crime in England commissioned by Historic England found that historic places are not being targeted over other places. 

The biggest single threat is metal theft.

The most threatened building is a church - 3 in 8 churches/religious buildings were damaged by crime.

• PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS) ACT 1990
• ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREAS ACT 1979
• PROTECTION OF WRECKS ACT 1973
• PROTECTION OF MILITARY REMAINS ACT 1986
• DEALING IN CULTURAL OBJECTS (OFFENCES) ACT 2003
• TREASURE ACT 1996
• TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990

Harm goes beyond financial value - a lot of heritage assets do not have a financial value.

HERITAGE CRIME IMPACT STATEMENTS - Statements to assist agencies responsible for the prevention and enforcement of heritage crime. They explain the impact of crime on heritage assets both to the enforcing agency and also to the courts when considering sentence.

HCIS have resulted in appropriate levels of sentencing that properly reflect the harm caused to the asset by the crime.

Historic England have published guidance on when and how to write impact statements: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/heritage-crime-impact-statements/heag190-heritage-crime-impact-statements/

HERITAGE CRIME PROTECTION PROGRAMME -  Run by Historic England, National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) along with a range of partners across the heritage and law enforcement sectors 

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) - Signed by the three main organisations. It sets out their responsibilities for tackling heritage crime.

HERITAGE WATCH SCHEMES - Enable the public to report and share information on crime, suspicious behaviour and damage they observe at heritage assers in their community or while out and about. 

Historic England is working with constabularies around the country to introduce more Heritage Watch schemes. 

Webpage for information on Heritage Crime aimed at LPAs: https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/caring-for-heritage/heritage-crime/investigate/