English Heritage has urged police and crime commissioners to take heritage crime more seriously amid research that shows 22,000 listed buildings were damaged by metal theft last year.
Kay Andrews, chairwoman of English Heritage, gave a speech to the House of Lords on the impact heritage crime has on communities, during the second reading of the scrap metal dealer’s bill, which would give local authorities powers to license scrap metal dealers and carry out inspections.
“Legitimising and regulating lawful scrap metal dealing will help reduce the temptation to steal, but to make much-needed further inroads into the problem, we need to increase general vigilance, use the best preventative measures and execute law enforcement in a way that properly reflects the value to society of the sites that have been damaged,” said Andrews.
“I would also ask the government, local authorities and police and crime commissioners, in particular, to complete the task and ensure heritage crime prevention is embedded in all their relevant law-enforcement activities.”
Heritage crime is an issue of increasing concern to the Museums Association, having been the subject of a recent strategy-setting board meeting and a session at the organisation’s conference.
Maurice Davies, head of policy and communication, said: “Heritage belongs to everyone and heritage crime damages everyone’s inheritance. It should, perhaps, be taken by police as seriously as wildlife crime.”
Last month, a man was jailed for two years for defacing a Mark Rothko painting at Tate Modern in London. Wlodzimierz Umaniec pleaded guilty to criminal damage to Black on Maroon, which experts said could cost £200,000 to restore.
It has also emerged that three rhino horns were stolen from Leicester’s New Walk Museum and Art Gallery stores in September. The horns, which have been in the collection for 50 years, have never been exhibited.
Kay Andrews, chairwoman of English Heritage, gave a speech to the House of Lords on the impact heritage crime has on communities, during the second reading of the scrap metal dealer’s bill, which would give local authorities powers to license scrap metal dealers and carry out inspections.
“Legitimising and regulating lawful scrap metal dealing will help reduce the temptation to steal, but to make much-needed further inroads into the problem, we need to increase general vigilance, use the best preventative measures and execute law enforcement in a way that properly reflects the value to society of the sites that have been damaged,” said Andrews.
“I would also ask the government, local authorities and police and crime commissioners, in particular, to complete the task and ensure heritage crime prevention is embedded in all their relevant law-enforcement activities.”
Heritage crime is an issue of increasing concern to the Museums Association, having been the subject of a recent strategy-setting board meeting and a session at the organisation’s conference.
Maurice Davies, head of policy and communication, said: “Heritage belongs to everyone and heritage crime damages everyone’s inheritance. It should, perhaps, be taken by police as seriously as wildlife crime.”
Last month, a man was jailed for two years for defacing a Mark Rothko painting at Tate Modern in London. Wlodzimierz Umaniec pleaded guilty to criminal damage to Black on Maroon, which experts said could cost £200,000 to restore.
It has also emerged that three rhino horns were stolen from Leicester’s New Walk Museum and Art Gallery stores in September. The horns, which have been in the collection for 50 years, have never been exhibited.
