UK News: 75,000 heritage crimes committed in a year

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Experts warn that “alarming” figures show that Britain's history is being destroyed in an “insidious and often irreversible way” for future generations. An official study compiled by the Council for British Archaeology and Newcastle and Loughborough universities, found that more than 75,000 “heritage crimes” took place in Britain in 2011. British criminals targeted World Heritage Sites, listed buildings, churches, parks and gardens, battlefields, conservation areas and shipwreck sites, according to English Heritage.

The damage suffered included metal theft, vandalism, graffiti and arson, with one in eight important sites being attacked. More than 30,000 listed buildings suffered substantial damage while anti-social behaviour around heritage sites was commonplace, the study found. It added that the “most precious buildings were worst affected”, with nearly a quarter of Grade I and II* listed structures subject to some type of criminal damage. Uncovering a “worrying” rate of damage, the report also concluded that nearly one in five listed buildings were “physically harmed by crime” with more than a third of churches or religious buildings damaged. But researchers, who uncovered an “unprecedented volume of information”, believe the figure could be much higher as one in three heritage-related crimes go unreported. Today’s report surveyed the country’s listed buildings of all grades, unlisted structures in conservation areas, scheduled monuments such as burial mounds and ruins and historic parks and gardens. It stated: “There is a growing body of evidence that the risk of crime and anti-social behaviour facing designated heritage assets has grown considerably in recent years.”

well obviously the answer is to package it all up and send it to US collectors to look after if the Brits cannot manage it. Readers will remember that this was their (only) answer to Greece and Italy facing similar problems.

Dr Simon Thurley, the chief executive of English Heritage (himself reportedly a collector of archaeological artefacts), described the report’s findings as alarming: “Damage done to a listed building or an archaeological site can often not be put right and centuries of history will be lost forever. These places have an obviously high value to society. Their particular vulnerability warrants every effort to ensure they are still around for future generations to enjoy just as much as we enjoy them now”, he said. John Penrose, the Heritage Minister, admitted the report was “depressing reading”. He added: “When historic buildings and sites fall victim to vandalism, damage and theft, it’s not just the owner who suffers. “Very often the thing that’s been stolen or damaged is literally irreplaceable, and the whole community is the loser”. And metal theft? See the post below.


Andrew Hough, and Martin Beckford, '75,000 heritage crimes committed in a year', Telegraph March 19, 2012