English Heritage tackles crime against heritage sites
70,000 listed buildings harmed by theft and vandalism in 2011
English Heritage is developing a new document to help people prevent crime against heritage sites following the publication of a report that has highlighted the extent of the problem.
The organisation says the report is the first comprehensive survey on the effect of crime on England’s historic building and sites.
Key findings include:
The crime prevention advice document that will be published next month is part of a programme English Heritage started two years ago to help tackle heritage crime.
The organisation has joined forces with the police (through the Association of Chief Police Officers) and the Crown Prosecution Service to take a more coordinated approach.
This has included the development of the Alliance to Reduce Crime against Heritage (Arch), a voluntary national network that is sharing information and encouraging local action.
“Arch is a good information sharing and support network and we are starting to put out a lot of guidance now,” says chief inspector Mark Harrison, the national policy adviser to English Heritage. “I can see Arch growing and growing.”
There are currently more than 100 Arch members. Membership of the group is free and open to all organisations and groups that have an interest in preventing and enforcing heritage crime.
The English Heritage survey was carried out by Newcastle University, Loughborough University and the Council for British Archaeology.
The organisation says the report is the first comprehensive survey on the effect of crime on England’s historic building and sites.
Key findings include:
- 70,000 listed buildings (18.7% of all listed buildings in England) were harmed by crime last year.
- Churches and other religious buildings face the greatest threat, with 37.5% damaged by crime last year.
- Metal theft is the biggest single threat. Around 5.3% of listed buildings were affected by it. This nearly trebles for churches, with 14.3% affected last year.
The crime prevention advice document that will be published next month is part of a programme English Heritage started two years ago to help tackle heritage crime.
The organisation has joined forces with the police (through the Association of Chief Police Officers) and the Crown Prosecution Service to take a more coordinated approach.
This has included the development of the Alliance to Reduce Crime against Heritage (Arch), a voluntary national network that is sharing information and encouraging local action.
“Arch is a good information sharing and support network and we are starting to put out a lot of guidance now,” says chief inspector Mark Harrison, the national policy adviser to English Heritage. “I can see Arch growing and growing.”
There are currently more than 100 Arch members. Membership of the group is free and open to all organisations and groups that have an interest in preventing and enforcing heritage crime.
The English Heritage survey was carried out by Newcastle University, Loughborough University and the Council for British Archaeology.