Extent of Heritage and Cultural Property Crime in England Revealed

• Theft of historic stone (including York stone) from some of England's most cherished historic sites is on the rise, particularly walls and paving slabs in Yorkshire and Cheshire, as well as granite cattle troughs and fountains from Kent and London. It continues to be at risk from those intent on stealing and trading for financial gain
• Metal theft from historic places of worship increased during the lockdown periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, but effective preventative and enforcement action has since resulted in a steady decrease
• A reduction in unlawful metal detecting (also known as nighthawking) has been achieved with the support of landowners and the metal-detecting community, with offenders being identified and brought to justice
• Offences relating to the theft of cultural objects from art galleries, museums and stately homes are on the rise, with artwork and antiques being the most frequently stolen items. It is estimated that over £3.2 million worth of cultural property was stolen in the 2021/22 period
• The ARCH partnership calls for the development of more accurate police recording processes for offences relating to the loss and damage to heritage sites and cultural property. This will lead to a more detailed understanding of the scale and extent of crime and anti-social behaviour in the historic environment

Other threats identified in the report include:

• Cost of living crisis. The theft of valuable heritage materials and cultural objects by opportunist offenders and organised crime groups is likely to increase as inflation continues to impact the price of commodities
• Anti-social behaviour. Arson, vandalism and graffiti continue to pose a significant threat to the owners and managers of England’s nationally important historic buildings and archaeological sites. Initiatives such as the ‘Heritage Watch’ programme and the work of the National Fire Chiefs’ Council and the National Rural Crime Network are having an impact
• Protected wreck sites. Last autumn, Historic England working with MSDS Marine and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) and partners announced an innovative forensic marking system to protect some of England’s 57 most historic and archaeologically important wreck sites. These include the Dutch warship Klein Hollandia. This new technology should act as a deterrent to those seeking to steal historic artefacts such as cannon from the seabed
• Cyber-enabled crime. The use of the internet has grown, and it is likely that stolen items will continue to be sold online where offenders can (often anonymously) make a profit. It is also likely that a higher number of fakes will enter the market as scams and fraudulent activity online rises

Main Image :Essex Police Heritage Crime Officers on patrol.© Essex Police.